SECOND    SERIES. 


No.  I. 


THE 


NARRATIVE 


OF 


COLONEL  DAVID  FANNING1 

'i 

(A    TORY    IX    THE    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR    WITH    OREAT    BRITAIN'): 
GIVING    AN    AOCOI'XT   OF   HIS 

ADVENTURES   IX   NORTH    CAROLINA 

FROM    1 775  TO   1783, 
AX     WRITTEN    BY    Jf  I. If  SELF. 

AVTTH    AX    INTRODUCTION    AXD    EXI'LAXATORY   NOTES. 


NEW    YORK: 

REPRINTED   FOR   JOSEPH   SABIX. 

1865. 


t 


FIFTY     COPIES     PRINTED.      4TO. 


A  I.  V  O  B  D  .     PK1NTEB. 


HISTORICAL    DOCUMENTS 


DELATING    TO    THE 


©Itr  Xortfj  g>tafe* 

tfo.  1. 

"  Gather  up  the  fragments  that  remain.7 


50  copies  4to. 


THE 


NARRATIVE 


OF 


COLONEL  DAVID  FANNING. 


(A  TORY    IN    THE    REVOLUTIONARY  WAR    WITH    GREAT    BRITAIN 


(JIVING    AX   ACCOUNT    OF    HIS 


ADVENTURES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA, 


FROM  17/5  to 

AS   WRITTEN    BY    HIMSELF, 


I  X  T  It  C)  I)  U  0  T  1  O  X 


AM) 


EXPLANATORY  NOTES. 


llitlmionb,  l);i. 

PRINTED  FOR  PRIVATE  DISTRIBUTION  ONLY. 


IN    THE    FIRST    YEAH    OF    THE    INDEPENDENCE    OF    THE 

COXFEDERATK  STATES  OF   AMERICA. 


PREFACE. 

<^> 

^^p=fHE  narrative  which  is  now  for  the  first  time  printed, 
supplies  a  vacancy  which  has  always  been  felt  by  the 
historian  of  the  Revolution  in  the  Southern  States. 
History,  song,  and  tradition  have  each  done  something 
to  perpetuate  the  recollection  of  the  deeds  of  one 
whose  name  has  come  to  us  linked  with  all  that  is  cruel  and 
rapacious  in  a  war  of  the  most  fratricidal  character ;  but  no 
authentic  detailed  account  of  his  life  has  up  to  the  present 
time  been  made  public,  and  but  few  of  the  particulars  of  his 
career  during  the  war  are  generally  known. 

All  who  have  written  of  DAVID  FANNING,  the  Tory,  have 
assigned  him  a  high  rank  in  the  annals  of  infamy,  and  none 
who  read  his  own  account  of  himself  and  his  "  services"  will 
hesitate  to  admit  that  he  has  been 

i:  by  merit  raised 
To  that  bad  eminence." 

The  frankness  with  which  he  narrates  his  adventures,  and 
speaks  of  the  cold-blooded  murder  of  his  neighbors  and  fel 
low-citizens,  is  only  equalled  by  the  self-satisfaction  which 
he  exhibits  at  the  close  of  his  address  "  To  the  Reader,"  in 
using  the  words  of  the  Psalmist  as  applicable  to  himself,  as 
the  "  perfect"  and  the  "  upright  man." 

Besides  what  he  has  written,  the  following  account  of  him 
(principally  traditionary)  is  that  which  is  best  authenti 
cated. 

David  Fanning  was  born  in  Johnston  county,  1ST.  C., 
2 


[*] 

about  the  year  1754,  of  obscure  parentage.  He  was 
apprenticed  to  a  Mr.  Bryant,  from  whom,  on  account  of 
harsh  treatment,  he  ran  away,  when  about  sixteen  or 
seventeen  years  of  age.  His  miserable  condition  excited 
compassion,  and  secured  for  him  a  temporary  home  at  the 
house  of  John  O.  Deniell,  of  the  Haw  Fields,  in  Orange 
county. 

He  had  the  scald  head,  had  lost  nearly  all  his  hair,  and 
the  scalp  was  so  offensive  that  he  never  ate  at  the  table 
with  the  family  or  slept  in  a  bed.  In  subsequent  life  he 
wore  a  silk  cap,  and  his  most  intimate  friends  never  saw  his 
head  naked. 

In  the  course  of  two  or  three  years  after  his  elopement 
from  his  master  he  went  to  South  Carolina,  engaged  in  traf 
ficking  with  the  Catawba  Indians,  acquired  property,  and 
settled  on  Raeburn's  Creek,  a  branch  of  Reedy  river,  in 
Laurens  District.  On  his  return  from  a  trading  excursion, 
at  the  beginning  of  the  difficulties  with  the  mother  country, 
he  was  met  by  a  party  of  lawless  fellows  who  called  them 
selves  Whigs,  and  robbed  by  them  of  every  thing  he  had. 
Previously  to  this  he  had  preferred  to  be  a  AVhig,  but,  ex 
asperated  at  the  outrage  perpetrated  by  these  desperadoes, 
he  changed  sides,  and  during  a  series  of  years  availed  him 
self  of  every  opportunity  to  wreak  his  vengeance  on  his 
former  friends. 

The  defeat  of  the  Tories  at  King's  Mountain  disheartened 
them  for  any  great  efforts  afterwards  in  North  Carolina, 
and  they  never  again  assembled  in  any  large  numbers  in 
that  State.  In  1782  Fanning  went  to  Charleston,  S.  C., 
and  from  thence  to  St.  Augustine,  in  Florida.  From  thence, 
at  the  close  of  the  war,  finding  that  all  hopes  of  his  returning 
to  his  native  State  were  removed  by  the  action  of  the  Legis 
lature,  which  made  an  exception  of  him  in  their  acts  of  am 
nesty,  he  went  to  New  Brunswick,  and  Sabine  says :  "  He 
lived  some  years  in  Queen's  county,  and  wras  a  member  of  the 


House  of  Assembly,  but  in  1799  removed  to  Nova  Scotia, 
where  he  was  a  Colonel  in  the  militia.  He  died  at  Digby, 
Nova  Scotia,  in  1825." 

Camthers  has  sifted  and  garnered  the  traditions  of  the 
times  with  remarkable  fulness  and  discrimination,  and  inter 
woven  record  evidence,  but  recently  discovered,  elucidating 
and  confirming  much  that  was  previously  obscure  and 
doubtful.  He  is  sustained  by  Fanning  in  every  important 
statement  but  one.  Fanning  was  not  trained  in  the  school 
of  M'Girth,  but  received  "  bloody  instructions'"  from  an  abler 
and  more  distinguished  man,  William  Cunningham,  the 
Captain  of  the  "  Bloody  Scout,"  a  good  memoir  of  whom 
is  a  desideratum  yet  to  be  supplied  by  the  South  Carolina 
Historical  Society,  before  it  is  too  late.  Fanning  states,  in 
the  opening  of  his  narrative,  that  after  the  reduction  of 
Charleston  (May  1780),  "  myself  and  one  William  Cunning 
ham  concluded  to  embody  a  party  of  men,  which  we  effected. 
We  determined  to  take  Colonel  Williams,  of  the  rebel  militia, 
prisoner,  and  then  to  join  Captain  Parish,  who  was  to  raise  a 
company  and  assist  us."  "  Bloody  Bill"  and  Captain  Parish 
(Paris,  or  Peares,  according  to  varying  orthography)  were  fit 
companions  for  Fanning.  Williams  eluded  them  then,  but 
only  to  fall  soon  after  more  gloriously,  with  the  shouts  of 
victory  sounding  his  requiem,  on  the  well-fought  battle 
field  of  Kind's  Mountain, 

o 

The  history  of  the  "  narrative"  itself ;  of  the  importance 
attached  to  it,  by  those  who  had  heard  of  or  seen  it ;  with 
the  indefatigable  efforts,  continued  for  a  long  period  and  at 
last  crowned  with  success,  on  the  part  of  the  gentleman  who, 
with  the  indispensable  untiring  spirit  of  an  antiquarian  and 
historian,  allowed  no  difficulties  to  divert  him  from  the  pur 
suit,  the  reader  will  find  in  the  Introduction  by  Mr.  Wheeler. 
One  thing  seems  remarkable ;  that  although  the  existence  of 
this  manuscript  was  known  to  persons  interested  in  the  his 
tory  of  North  Carolina,  yet  it  must  have  entirely  escaped  the 


[  xM] 

knowledge  of  Mr.  Sabine  ;  for  although  lie  says,  in  the  preface 
to  his  "  Sketches  of  American  Loyalists,"  that  "  I  lived  in 
the  eastern  portion  of  the  United  States,  enjoyed  free  and 
constant  intercourse  with  persons  of  Loyalist  descent,  have 
had  the  use  of  family  papers  and  of  rare  documents,  have 
made  journeys  to  confer  with  the  living,  and  pilgrimages  to 
graveyards  to  complete  the  records  of  the  dead,"  yet  he 
makes  no  mention  of  the  existence  of  this  narrative ;  and, 
in  addition  to  that  which  is  above  quoted,  has  only  to  say  for 
the  biography  of  David  Fanning,  that  "  He  was  an  officer 
under  the  crown  during  the  war,  and  at  its  close  settled  in 

O  7 

Xew  Brunswick." 

By  the  date  of  his  address  "  To  the  Reader,"  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  narrative  was  written  in  1790.  An  examination  and 
comparison  of  the  Index  and  text  will  give  reason  to  believe 
that  the  order  of  the  narrative  was  first  arranged  in  his  mind, 
and  the  Index  made  out,  as  containing  the  most  important 
events  connected  with  this  period  of  his  life,  in  the  order  in 
which  they  occurred;  and  when  the  work  wras  being  executed 
he  failed  to  find  many  of  the  documents  which  he  had  in 
tended  to  embody  in  his  account,  among  which  were  included 
the  letters,  proclamations,  speeches,  and  petitions,  which  are 
indicated  in  the  Index  by  an  *,  but  which  cannot  be  found 
in  the  text.  Those  parts  of  the  Index  might  have  been 
omitted ;  but  deeming  it  proper  to  print  the  whole  paper  as  it 
was  made  out  by  the  author,  I  have  preserved  the  whole 
arrangement  of  title,  address  to  the  reader,  index,  and  text, 
just  as  he  had  it,  not  altering  a  single  word  or  letter  from 
the  copy.  A  very  few  typographical  errors  of  a  single  letter 
occur,  but  these  are  too  apparent  to  be  pointed  out. 

This  narrative  gives  many  details  of  events  which  have 
escaped  the  historian,  and  records  acts  of  heroism  and  in 
stances  of  suiferiiig  on  the  part  of  those  who,  in  the  Southern 
States,  offered  up  their  all  as  a  sacrifice  to  secure  the  inde 
pendence  of  the  American  colonies.  But  the  patriot  and 


[  xiii  ] 

the  philanthropist  must  always  regret  that  the  struggles  of 
those  who,  in  the  contest  with  Great  Britain,  shed  their  blood 
on  every  battle-field,  both  in  their  own  section  and  that  of 
the  North,  for  the  freedom  of  the  whole  country,  were  pro 
ductive  only  of  a  change  of  masters  with  them ;  for  soon 
after  throwing  off  the  yoke  of  Old  England,  they  were, 
through  adroit  management  and  cunning  legislation,  made 
to  assume  that  of  New '  England ;  and  ere  the  actors  en 
gaged  in  the  first  struggle  had  all  passed  from  the  stage  of 
life,  their  children  had  to  draw  the  sword  to  protect  their 
homes  and  firesides  from  a  foe  who,  fattened  upon  their  sub 
stance,  and  grown  insolent  by  successes,  attempted  to  impose 
on  them  burdens  more  odious  than  those  which  they  refused 
to  bear  from  that  nation  to  whom  they  owed  their  existence 
as  a  people.  And  these  impositions  on  the  part  of  the  North 
have  at  last  culminated  in  the  final  and  irrevocable  separa 
tion  from  them  of  those  to  whom  they  should  have  clung 
with  more  than  maternal  love.  And,  alas !  their  mad  efforts 
to  subdue  those  who  now  stand  in  the  attitude  of  rebels 
towards  them,  have  brought  about  the  re-enacting  of  scenes 
such  as  those  disclosed  by  our  veracious  chronicler;  and 
although  we  still  have  greatly  the  advantage  in  the  battles 
fought  up  to  this  time,  yet,  Virginia  invaded,  Maryland 
overpowered,  and  Kentucky  divided  against  herself,  have 
realized  all  the  horrors  of  civil  war  as  told  by  Fanning,  with 
other  scenes  at  the  recital  of  which  decency  revolts,  and  be 
fore  the  perpetrators  of  them  even  the  Tories  of  the  first 
revolutionary  war  might  "  hide  their  diminished  heads ;" 
while  the  faithful  historian  of  this  portion  of  our  country's 
annals  will  blush  for  his  race  when  he  records  the  deeds  of 
those  who,  calling  themselves  Union  men,  cling  to  the  old 
government,  as  did  the  Tories  of  Fanning's  time,  and  in  the 
name  of  loyalty  rob  and  torture  and  lay  waste  the  property 
of  those  who  have  dared  to  assert  and  endeavor  to  maintain 
their  rights  as  freemen. 


xv 

The  present  may  seem  an  inappropriate  time  to  attend  to 
preserving  the  history  of  our  former  struggle  for  independ 
ence  ;  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  while  a  country  is  en 
gaged  in  a  furious  war,  with  a  foe  who  unites  to  all  the 
rancor  of  difference  of  race  the  rage  of  the  pirate  at  the 
escape  of  his  destined  victims,  it  is  hardly  a  fitting  time  to 
contribute  to  the  historical  literature  of  our  country.  But 
when  we  recollect  how  liable  to  loss  and  destruction,  espe 
cially  at  such  periods,  are  all  manuscript  records,  a  reason  is 
at  once  given  for  consigning  them  to  "  the  art  preservative 
of  all  arts,"  to  prevent  their  total  loss.  For  this  reason,  and 
with  the  hope  that  this  effort  may  contribute  something  to 
the  history  of  one  of  the  States  now  forming  a  part  of  the 
new  Confederacy,  is  this  pamphlet  distributed. 

In  making  out  the  notes  illustrative  of  the  history  of  per 
sons  named  in  the  text,  I  have  derived  the  greater  portion 
of  the  information  from  Sabine's  Loyalists,  Lossing's  Field- 
Book  of  the  Revolution,  and  Gibbes'  Historical  Documents 
of  South  Carolina.  I  am  also  indebted  to  Hon.  L.  D.  Swain, 
ex-governor  of  North  Carolina,  for  many  of  the  notes,  which 
are  printed  entire  as  he  wrote  them,  and  for  the  synopsis  of 
the  life  of  Fanning,  as  given  in  the  preface. 

T.  H.  W. 

RICHMOND,  Nov.  25^,  1861. 


INTRODUCTION. 


BY  JOHN  H.  WHEELER. 


-'HE  name  of  FANNING,  whose  narrative  is  herewith 
preserved,  written  by  himself,  is  associated,  in  the 
revolutionary  history  of  North  Carolina,  with  deeds 
of  desperate  daring,  rapine,  and  cruelty.  Since  the 
history  of  North  Carolina  was  published  by  me  (1851) 
I  have  met  with  a  letter  from  General  Alexander  Gray  to 
Dr.  A.  Henderson,  dated  Randolph  county,  N.  C.,  March 
30th,  1S47,  which  gives  much  information  as  to  the  ad 
ventures  and  exploits  of  Colonel  Fanning.  Rev.  E.  W. 
Caruthers,  D.  D..  in  a  work  entitled  "  The  Revolutionary 
Incidents  and  Sketches  of  Character,  chiefly  in  the  old  North 
State,"  printed  in  Philadelphia  (Hayes  &  Zell,  193  Market 
Street)  in  1854,  has  devoted  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pages  of  his  very  valuable  work  to  the  life  and  character  of 
Fanning. 


In  preparing  matter  for  a  second  edition  of  my  History  of 
North  Carolina,  as  I  felt  satisfied  that  the  sketch  of  Fanning 
I  had  presented  of  him  under  Chatham  County  (2d  vol.  84) 
was  not  complete,  and  not  satisfactory  even  to  myself,  with 
out  this  narrative,  which  I  knew  had  been  written,  and  which 
was  in  existence,  I  made  some  efforts  to  obtain  a  copy  of  it. 
But  to  effect  this  seemed  almost  hopeless.  I  had  seen  a  copy 
of  a  letter  from  Fanning  to  Rev.  Roger  Veits,  dated  in 
1822,  in  which  he  declared  that  he  "  would  not  let  any  one 
have  it  on  any  pretence  whatsoever''— that  he  had  refused  five 
hundred  dollars  for  it.  I  visited  St.  Johns,  in  the  British 
province  of  New  Brunswick,  near  which  Fanning  lived  and 
died,  but  was  not  successful  in  this  object. 

After  Fanning's  death  (in  1825),  his  son,  who,  Dr.  Caru- 
thers  states,  "  was  a  ruling  Elder  in  the  church  and  an  es 
timable  man,"  did  not  seem  to  value  so  highly  this  important 
paper,  which  with  other  documents  of  his  father  came  into 
his  possession.  He  allowed  Porter  C.  Bliss,  Esq.,  who  was 
employed  by  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  to  collect 
authentic  materials  of  the  early  history  of  our  Nation,  to 
make  a  copy,  which  he  did,  as  he  informed  me,  verbatim  ct 
literatim — not  correcting  the  many  errors  in  orthography 
and  grammar  with  which  it  abounds.  I  copied  this  myself 
carefully.  When  1  first  heard  of  this  manuscript  copy,  it 
was  in  the  hands  of  Hon.  Geo.  Bancroft,  in  New  York.  I 
wrote  to  Mr.  Bancroft,  with  the  approbation  of  Mr.  Bliss, 
who  at  the  time  was  engaged  in  a  responsible  position  in  the 
Indian  Bureau  of  the  Interior  Department  in  Washington 
City,  and  is  now  attached  to  the  American  Legation  at 
Brazil.  Mr.  Bancroft  immediately  replied,  testifying  to  the 


[  xvii  ] 

authenticity,  fidelity,  and  value  of  the  manuscript;*  and 
through  Mr.  Bliss's  efforts  it  was  forwarded  to  me.  My  ex 
ertions  to  procure  this  paper  had  been  stimulated  by  a  letter 
to  me  from  Governor  Swain,  dated  16th  April,  1861,  in 
which  he  says :  "  I  have  known  of  the  existence  of  the  Fan 
ning  manuscript  for  nearly  thirty  years  ;  and  have  made 
repeated  efforts,  unsuccessfully,  to  obtain  a  copy.  My  last 
attempt. was  three  or  four  years  ago,  through  Dr.  Sparks,  of 
Boston." 

When  Judge  Murphy,  a  few  years  before  his  death,  was 
collecting  materials  for  history,  he  made  an  effort  through 
Hon.  Archibald  McBride,  of  Moore  county  (in  Congress  from 
1809  to  1813),  to  obtain  a  copy  of  Fanning's  narrative.  He 
could  get  nothing  except  the  following  letter,  which  has  been 
published  in  the  University  Magazine,  and  also  in  Carutliers's 
work : 

DIGBY  loth  May  1S22 
"  DEAR  SIR 

The  letters  you  sent  me  appears  to  be  a  request  of  some 
gentleman  in  North  Carolina,  or  elsewhere  to  get  holt  of  my 
Journal,  or  the  narrative  of  my  servis,  During  the  time  of 


*  The  following  note  from  Mr.  Bancroft  will  testify  to  the  value  he  placed  on 
the  narrative : 

"NEW  YORK,  April  26,  1861. 
MY  DEAR  MR.  WHEELER  : 

I  have  yours  'of  April  19th.  Having  only  had  permission  of  Mr.  Bliss  to 
keep  the  MS.  for  a  short  season,  I  returned  it  almost  immediately  to  Mr.  Peane, 
from  whom  I  received  it.  The  journal  must  be  printed. 

Yours  truly. 

GECL    BANCROFT.1' 

John  H.  Wlieder,  R<q. 
3 


[   xviii   ] 

the  American  Rebellion.  I  am  under  the  necessity  of  say 
ing  that  I  would  not  Let  any  man  have  it  on  any  pretence 
whatsoever,  Unless  I  was  well  informed  of  the  use  that  was 
to  be  made  of  it.  Yon  can  say  to  the  Gentleman  that  I  now 
have  a  narrative  of  the  Transactions  of  that  war,  Both  of 
North  and  South  Carolinas  ;  and  if  any  gentleman  wishes  to 
know  from  me  of  any  particular  transaction,  or  the  Date,  by 
pointing  it  out  to  me,  I  may  give  the  information  of  it,  if  it 
Don't  operate  against  my  Coming  back  to  look  after  my 
property.  You  may  say,  that  my  Journal  contains  more 
than  one  Quire  of  Fools  Cap  paper  Closely  wrote,  and  it 
would  take  a  good  pens  man  a  month  to  write  it  over,  lit  to 
send  to  the  world  abroad.  I  was  offered,  by  Charles  Cook 
in  England  fifty  pounds  sterling  for  my  Journal  to  have  it 
published,  and  I  Refused  him.  Colonel  McDougal  Desired 
me  not  to  Insert  in  it,  any  thing  of  his  Servessas  ;  as  he  in 
tended  going  back  to  North  Carolina  to  Live,  and  he  knows 
that  I  have  a  Narrative  of  all  the  Transactions.  If  he  should 
want  any  thing  of  the  kind  from  me,  he  should  write  to  me 
himself.  If  any  person  wishes  to  prove  any  thing  false, 
respecting  the  conduct  of  the  Torys,  let  him  point  what  it  is, 
and  I  will  endeavour  to  give  him  the  truth. 

I  am  dear  Sir  Your  obedient  Servant 

DAVID  FANNING. 

P.  S.  I  believe  there  is  some  more  meaning  in  the  letters 
than  I  understand ;  the  word  Memorial  of  my  life  or  a  word 
to  that  effect,  that  I  don't  understand.  I  have  hurt  my 
ankil  and  knee,  so  I  cannot  come  to  see  you.  Ross  said  you 
wanted  to  answer  them  by  post. 

To  the  AW  Rwjer  Veitt*. 


xx 

With  every  reader  of  the  revolutionary  history  of  North 
Carolina,  so  full  of  thrilling  incidents  and  patriotism,  I  feel 
much  gratification  in  rescuing  from  oblivion  this  narrative 
of  one,  about  whom  so  much  and  varied  tradition  exists  in 
our  State ;  and  which,  from  its  minuteness  in  detail,  and  ac 
curacy  of  dates  (which  have  been  compared  with  reliable 
authorities),  may  be  depended  upon,  as  a  truthful  record. 
Had  the  daring,  desperate  temper  of  Fanning  been  elevated 
by  education,  chastened  bv  religious  influences,  and  directed 

*/  t,  o 

in  proper  and  patriotic  channels,  his  name  might  have  been 
associated  with  that  of  the  Marions  and  Waynes  of  the  event 
ful  epoch  in  which  he  was  notorious. 

Jxo.  H.  WHEELKR. 

Murfrcesboro\  Hertford  Co.,  N.  C. 
Uh  June,  1861. 


NARRATIVE 


OF 


COL'O  DAVID  FANNING 


WRITTEN    BY    HIMSELF 


DETAILING  ASTONISHING   EVENTS 


IN  NO.  CA. 


FROM     1775     TO     1783 


R  A  R 


(& 


TO  THE  READER. 


COURTEOUS  READER, 

whoever  thou  art,  the  Author  being  only  a  Farmer 
bred,  and  not  conversant  in  learning,  thou  may'st  think  that 
the  within  Journal  is  not  authentic.  But  it  may  be  de 
pended  upon  on  that  every  particular  herein  mentioned  is 
nothing  but  the  truth  ;  Yea,  I  can  boldly  assert  that  I  have 
undergone  much  more  than  what  is  herein  mentioned. 

Rebellion  according  to  Scripture  is,  as  the  Sin  of  witch 
craft  ;  and  the  propagators  thereof,  has  more  than  once 
punished  ;  which  is  dreadfully  exemplified  this  day  in  the 
now  United  States  of  America  but  formerly  Provinces  ; 
for  since  their  Independence  from  Great  Britain,  they  have 
been  awfully  and  visibly  punished  by  the  fruits  of  the  earth 
being  cut  off;  and  civil  disseiition  every  day  prevailing 
among  them  ;  their  fair  trade,  and  commerce  almost  totally 
ruined  ;  and  nothing  prospering  so  much  as  nefarious  and 
rebelious  Smugling.  Whatever  imperfections  is  in  the 
within,  its  hoped  will  be  kindly  overlooked  by  the  courteous 
Reader,  and  attributed  to  the  Author's  want  of  learning. 

I  do  not  set  forth  any  thing  as  a  matter  of  amusement, 


[  xxiv  ] 

but  what  is  really,  justly  fact,  that  my  transactions  and 
scenes  of  life  have  been  as  herein  narrated  during  the  term 
of  the  .Rebellion  ;  and  that  conduct,  resolution,  and  courage 
perform  wonderous  things  beyond  credibility,  the  following 
of  which  laudable  deeds  will  give  them,  are  exercized  there 
in  the  Experience  that  I  have  gained. 

In  the  19th  year  of  my  age,  I  entered  into  the  War ;  and 
proceeded  from  one  step  to  another,  as  is  herein  mentioned, 
and  at  the  conclusion  thereof,  was  forced  to  leave  the  place 
of  my  nativity  for  my  adherence  to  the  British  Constitution ; 
and  after  my  sore  fatigues,  I  arrived  at  St.  John  River; 
and  there  with  the  blessing  of  God,  I  have  hitherto  enjoyed 
the  sweets  of  peace,  and  freedom  under  the  benevolent  aus 
pices  of  the  British  Government — which  every  loyal  and 
true  subject  may  enjoy  with  me,  is  the  wish  of  the  Author. 

King* s  County  DAVID  FANNING. 

Long  Beach 

New  Brunswick 
Jane  2±th  1790. 

PSALM  37  &  37. 

"  Mark  the  perfect  man.  and  behold  the  upright !  for  the  end  of  that  man  is 
peace." 


INDEX 


The  Narrative  of  David  Fanning 1 

Major  Robinson  took  the  command 3 

The  first  time  my  being  taken 3 

Mjr  going  to  the  Indians 4 

John  Tork  in  East  Florida  ........  .5 

Colo.  Mills  taken 7 

Gilliam  took  me 9 

My  wounds  dressed 1 1 

Treaty  with  the  rebel,  Colo.  Williams .11 

The  reduction  of  Charleston 11 

Colo.  Innis' Engagement  in  South  Carolina . 12 

Went  to  Deep  River,  North  Carolina 13 

Col.  Hamilton's  advertisement 13 

A  skirmish  with  Duck          ..........  14 

Joined  Lord  Cornwallis        .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .14 

A  skirmish  with  Capt.  John  Hinds 15 

The  Three  Skirmishes 15 

The  Skirmish  with  Collier,  and  Balfour 17 

My  appointment  from  J.  H.  Craigg 18 

A  copy  of  the  commission,  I  gave         ........  19 

The  names  of  the  different  Officers 19 

Chatham  taken    ............  24 

The  Regulations  of  the  Loyalists 24 

The  oath  to  the  Loyalists 27 

Engagement  with  Col.  Alston 27 

Copy  of  a  parole 28 

Major  Cage's  letter      . 29 

Col.  Slingsby  wounded 31 

The  Engagement  with  Wade 31 

McDougakl  and  McXeal  join  me 32 

My  advertisement        .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .32 

Hillsborough  taken,  (Gov.  taken  prisoner) 33 

Colo  McNeal  killed,  and  myself  wounded 34 

Skirmish  with  0  Neal 34 

J.  H.  Craigg's  letter 36 

Colo  Edmund  Fanning's  letter 37 

Capt.  John  Leggetts'  letters 37 

Colo.  McDougaTa  list  of  Officers 37 

Colo.  McNeal's    do          do 37 

The  Volunteers  from  Wilmington        .         . 37 

4 


[  xxvi  ] 


Different  skirmishes  with  Rutherford's  men 38 

Rebel  proclamation 39 

&  Col.  Isaacs  from  the  mountains 39 

Skirmishes  with  the  Rebels 41 

Golstons's  House  burnt  and  two  Rebels  killed 41 

Terms  required  by  me  of  the  Rebels 42 

"Williams  answer 43 

Ramsey's  Letters 44 

Williams,  Burns,  &  Clarke's  letter 45 

Capt.  Linley  murdered,  and  two  men  hanged  for  it      .         .         .         .         .46 

Col.  Alston  came  to  me 46 

My  articles  presented  again          .........  47 

General  Butler's  letter 49 

Walker,  and  Currie's  skirmishes  with  the  Rebels 50 

Balfour  killed 51 

Bryan  killed 51 

Rebel  Commisary  hanged .52 

Capt.  Williams  from  Gov'r  to  me 52 

Griffith's  Letter ....  53 

Rosur  and  Goldston's  letters 53 

Capt  Dugin's  and  Guins  letter 54 

The  answer  from  the  Assemblay 55 

Myself  married,  &  Capt.  Hooker  killed 56 

The  forged  letters 57  - 

My  answer  in  Major  Rains  name 58 

My  riding  Mare  taken 59 

Hunter  and  Williams  letter 59 

My  arrival  in  Charleston      .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .61 

The  names  of  the  gentlemen  Committee  in  Charleston         .         .         .        .61 

*  Rebel  proclamation 

Embarked  for  East  Florida 63 

*  Major  Devoice's  Articles  .......... 

A  certificate  of  my  Services  signed  by  officers  in  East  Florida     .         .         .03 

An  estimate  of  my  property 64  - 

*  King's  Speech 

*  My  speech  to  the  inhabitants 

*  Myself  and  others  set  out  for  East  Florida 

*  My  arrival  at  New  Providence  ......... 

Col.  Hamilton's  letter 65 

My  Memorial  to  the  Commissioners      ........  66 

Lieut.  Colo.  McKay's  letters 67 

Commissioner',  certificate    ..........  69 

Memorial  for  half  pay  to  Sir  George  Young 67 

*  My  letter  to  George  Randal 

The  Rebel  Act  of  oblivion 70 

*  Rebel  Petition 

*  Mr.  Branson's  letters         .......... 

*  William  Teague's  letter 


The  subjects  named  in  these  are  not  to  be  found  in  the  text. 


A.    JOURNAL    OF 
COL.  DAVID  TANNING'S  TEANSACTIONS, 

DURING  THE  LATE  WAR,  IN  AMERICA;  FROM  THE  TEAR  1775, 
.COMMENCING  Isr  OF  MAY;    UNTIL  THE  PEACE. 


THOMAS  FLEACHALL1  of  Fair- 
forest,  ordered  the  different  Captains  to 
call  musters,  and  present  two  papers  for 
the  inhabitants  to  sign.  One  was  to  see 
who  was  friends  to  the  King  and  Gov 
ernment  ;  and  the  other  was  to  see  who 
would  join  the  Kebellion. 
The  first  day  of  May,  Capt.  James  Lin  die  j  of  Rabern's 
Creek,  sent  to  me,  as  I  was  a  Sergeant  of  the  said  company, 
to  have  his  company  warned  to  meet  at  his  house  15th  of 
said  month.  I  did  accordingly,  and  presented  two  papers ; 
there  was  118  men  signed  in  favour  of  the  King,  also  de 
clared  to  defend  the  same,  at  the  risk  of  lives  and  property, 
in  July  1775.  There  was  several  advertisements  set  up  in 
every  part  of  said  district,  that  there  was  a  very  good  pres- 
petearing  minester  to  call  at  the  Different  places,  to  preach, 
and  Baptise  children. 

But  at  the  time  appointed,  instead  of  meeting  a  Minister, 
we  all  went  to  meet  two  Jews  by  name  of  Silvedoor  and 
Rapely ;  and  after  making  many  speeches  in  favour  of  the 
Rebellion,  and  used  all  their  endeavors  to  delude  the 
people  away,  at  last  presented  Revolution  papers  to  see  who 


[  2  ] 

would  sign  them ;  they  were  severely  rep  remanded  by 
Henry  O'neal2  and  many  others.  It  came  so  high,  that 
they  had  much  adue  to  get  off,  with  their  lives.  The 
Rebels  then  found  that  we  were  fully  determined  to  oppose 
them.  They  began  to  embody  in  the  last  of  said  month ; 
to  compel  all  to  join  them,  or  to  take  away  our  arms.  Our 
officers  got  word  of  their  intentions.  I  then  got  orders 
from  the  Captain  to  warn  the  Militia  to  assemble  them 
selves  at  Hugh  O'neal's  mill ;  which  was  done  by  several 
Captain's  companys,  and  continued  for  several  days  under 
arms ;  and  then  both  parties  was  determined  on  this  condi 
tion,  that  neither  parties  should  intercept  each  other. 
This  continued  for  some  time,  until  the  Rebels  had  taken 
Thomas  Brown,3  who  after  that  had  the  honor  to  be  Colonel 
of  the  Regiment  of  the  East  Florida  Rangers,  at  Augusta. 
They  burnt  his  feet,  tarred,  feathered  and  cut  off  his  hair. 
After  that  he  got  so  he  was  able  to  set  on  horseback,  he 
came  to  our  poast,  and  the  Rebels  then  began  to  embody 
again.  Col'n  Fletchall  found  a  large  camp,  and  marched 
from  the  Liberty  Springs  to  Mill  Creek  on  our  way  towards 
Ninety-Six ;  Twelve  miles  from  Ninety-Six  the  Rebels 
found  they  were  not  strong  enough  for  us,  and  sent  an 
Express  to  Col'n  Fletchall  to  come  and  treat  witli  them, 
which  said  Fletchall  did.  But  the  terms  of  their  treat 
ment  I  did  not  know.  We  were  all  dismissed  until  farther 
orders.  In  a  short  time  after  the  Rebels  took  Capt.  Robert 
Cunningham*  and  carried  him  off  to  Charlestown.  Our 
party  was  then  informed  of  his  being  taken  off  in  the  night 
time,  and  by  making  inquiry  after  him,  we  got  information 
of  a  large  quantity  of  Ammonition,  that  was  there,  on  its 
way  to  the  Cherechee  Nation  for  Capt.  Richard  Paris  to 
bring  the  Indians  down  into  the  settlement,  where  the 
friends  of  the  Government  lived,  to  murder  all  they  coud. 
We  intercepted  the  amonition  and  took  Capt'n  R.  Paris, 
who  swore  to  these  facts.  We  there  formed  a  large  camp, 


[3   J 

and  Col.  Fletcliall  being  so  heavy,  be  gave  up  the  command 
to  Maj.  Joseph  Robinson.5 

In  the  month  of  Nov'r  1775,  the  South  Carolina  Militia, 
of  which  I  was  at  that  time  Sergeant,  under  the  command 
of  Major  Joseph  Robinson,  laid  seige  to  a  Fort,  erected  by 
the  Rebels  at  Ninety-Six;  commanded  by  Col.  Mason: 
which  continued  for  the  space  of  three  days,  and  three 
nights — at  the  expiration  of  which  time  the  Rebels  were 
forced  to  surrender,  and  give  up  the  Fort  and  Artillery. 
Major  Robinson  then  ordered  the  Militia  to  the  North  side 
of  Saluda  River,  and  discharged  them,  for  eighteen  days. 
Afterwards  orders  were  issued  for  every  Captain  to  collect 
their  respective  companies  at  Hendrick's  Mill,  about  20 
miles  from  Ninety-Six ;  The  Rebels  having  received  intel 
ligence  of  our  intended  motion,  they  immediately  marched 
before  us ;  and  took  possession  of  the  ground,  which  pre 
vented  our  assembling  there.  But  about  300  of  our  Men 
met  at  Little  River  and  marched  from  thence  to  Reedy 
River;  and  encamped  at  the  Big  Cane  Break,  for  several 
days.  The  Rebels  being  informed  of  our  situation,  marched 
unexpectedly  upon  us,  and  made  prisoners  of  130  of  men ; 
the  remainder  fled  into  the  woods  and  continued  there, 
with  the  Cherichee  Indians  until  the  18th  Jan'y  1776; 
when  I  was  made  a  prisoner  by  a  party  of  Rebels  com 
manded  by  a  Captain  John  Burns ;  who  after  detaining  me 
four  days,  repeatedly  urging  me  to  take  the  oath  of  alle 
giance  to  the  United  States,  stript  me  of  every  thing,  and 
made  me  give  security,  for  my  future  good  behaviour,  by 
which  means  I  got  clear;  On  the  10th  of  May  1776  hearing 
the  Rebels  had  issued  a  proclamation  to  all  the  friends  of 
government,  offering  them  pardon  and  protection,  provided 
they  would  return  to  their  respective  habitations  and  re 
main  neutral,  this  induced  -me  for  to  return  to  my  home, 
where  I  arrived  on  the  loth  of  June. 


[4   ] 

On  the  20th,  the  Rebels  being  apprehensive  of  the  Cher- 
ichee  Indians  breaking   out,  despatched   several   emissaries 
among  the  Loyalists,  for  to  discover  their  intentions.     One 
of  which  was  Capt.  Ritchie,  who  came  to  me,  and  told  me 
he   was   a   friend    to    Government,    and    sometime    before 
left  the  Indian  .Nation,  and   then  wanted   a  pilot  to  con 
duct  him  to  the  Indian  Nation  again.     I  agreed  to  conduct 
him  to  any  part  of  the  country  he  wanted  for  to  go  to,  pro 
vided  he  would  keep  it  secret.     This  he  promised  for  to  do. 
But  immediately  he  went  and  lodged  information  against 
me,  and  swore  that  I  then  had  a  company  of  men,  ready 
in  order,  for  to  join  the  Indians.     In  consequence  of  this,  I 
was   made  prisoner  again,  on   the    25th,  by  a   Capt.  John 
Rogers,  and  thrown  into  close  confinement  with  three  cen- 
tinels   over   me.      On    the   1st   of  July,  the    Indians   came 
down  into  the  back  country  of  South  Carolina,  and  killed 
several  families;    at  which  time,  the  rebel  camp  being  in 
great  confusion,  I  made  my  escape,  and  went  to  my  own 
house  at  Rabirivs  creek  ;  but  finding  a  number  of  my  friends 
had  already  gone  to  the  Indians,  and  more  disposed  so  for  to 
do,  I  got  twenty-five  men  to  join  me ;  and  on  our  arrival  at 
Parishies  plantation,  on  Reedy  River,  in  the  Indian  land,  we 
formed  a  junction  with  the  Indians,  on  the  16th  inst.,  in  the 
evening ;    the  militia  and  the  Cherickees  to  amount  of  260 
surrounded  the  fort  built  with  logs,  containing  450  of  the 
Rebels.     After  a  smart  fire  on  both  sides  for  two  hours  and 
a  half,  we  retreated  without  any  injury  except  one  of  the 
Indian  Chiefs  being  shot  through  the  hand.     I  then  left  the 
Indians  and  persued  my  way  to  North  Carolina ;  where,  on 
my  arrival,  I  was  taken  up  again,  and  close  confined;  but 
was  rescued   by  my  friends,  three   different  times.      Atter 
which  I  made  my  escape  good.     1  then  endeavored  for  to 
go  home  again  ;  and  after  experiencing  numberless  hardships 
in  the  woods,  I  arrived  the  10th  of  March,  1777,  at  Rebun's 
creek,  South  Carolina. 


I  was  made  prisoner  again  on  the  llth,  by  a  Capt.  Smith, 
bound  hand  and  foot,  and  carried  under  guard,  towards 
Ninety-six  goal ;  after  marching  twelve  miles,  the  company 
halted  for  the  evening,  and  watching  an  opportunity,  I  cut 
the  ropes  I  was  bound  with,  and  stript  myself  when  the  guard 
was  asleep,  I  threw  myself  out  of  the  window  and  returned 
oack  to  Reburn's  creek,  by  a  different  way,  from  that  which 
they  had  carried  me  prisoner.  I  was  obliged  now  for  to 
secret  myself  in  the  woods,  and  was  supplied  with  provition 
by  some  Quakers,  and  other  Loyalists,  in  the  neighbourhood. 

A  company  of  loyalists,  of  which  I  was  one,  was  then 
raised  bv  a  Richard  Parish,  and  it  was  determined  to  so  to 

"  ?T» 

Mobile,  and  join  the  British  army.  One  of  the  company 
proving  treacherous,  gave  information  to  the  rebels,  who 
raised  a  body  of  troops  for  to  suppress  us.  They  took  me, 
with  five  more  prisoners,  and  carried  us  to  Ninety-six  goal, 
on  the  5th  August,  1777.  Captain  Parish  escaped  with 
some  loyalists,  belonging  to  the  company,  and  made  his 
way  good  to  the  British  army  at  Mobile,  in  West  Florida, 
Myself,  with  five  others,  who  were  taken,  remained  in  close 
confinement,  until  November  following,  and  we  were  tried 
for  our  lives,  on  a  charge  of  High  Treason,  for  rising  in  arms 
against  the  United  States  of  America;  but  were  acquited 
and  wTent  home.  The  fees  and  expenses  of  my  confinement 
amounted  to  £300,  Virginia  money,  allowing  dollars  at  six 
shillings  each,  which  I  paid,  and  was  then  ordered  back  to 
the  goal  for  the  rent  of  the  room. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  1778,  Capt.  John  Tork,  of  East  Flori 
da,  received  orders  from  the  commander-in-chief  for  the 
Loyal  Militia,  of  Georgia,  and  South  Carolina,  to  assemble 
themselves.  Accordingly,  they  were  embodied. — The  major 
ity  of  the  people  chose  me  their  commanding  officer,  we 
took  a  number  of  prisoners,  furnished  ourselves  with  horses, 
and  marched  to  Savannah  river  on  the  borders  of  Georgia, 
(two  miles  above  Augusta),  Capt.  Tork,  who  was  our 


[6] 

pilot,  then  got  discouraged,  and  would  not  suffer  any  of 
the  militia  to  proceed  with  him  back  to  East  Florida 
except  three  men  ;  we  were  then  under  the  necessity  of  re 
turning  home,  upwards  of  one  hundred  miles,  through  the 
rebel  country  ;  and  betake  ourselves  to  the  woods  as  for 
merly.  During  our  retreat,  we  were  persued  by  three  hun 
dred  rebels ;  but  we  got  back  home  to  Reburn's  creek  safe. 
When  the  Rebels  found  we  were  returned,  they  raised  a 
body  of  men  for  to  take  us ;  and  for  the  space  of  three 
months  kept  so  constant  a  look  out  that  we  were  obliged  for 
to  stay  in  the  woods ;  six  weeks  of  which  time  I  never  saw 
a  man,  except  Samuel  Brown  (who  was,  afterwards  killed  at 
Tiger  river,)  that  shared  my  sufferings ;  we  lived  entirely 
without  either  bread  or  salt,  upon  what  we  killed  in  the 
wilderness.  We  determined,  let  the  consequences  be  what 
they  would,  to  proceed  to  the  settlement  of  Green  river, 
North  Carolina,  where  we  rested  ourselves  at  a  friend's 
house,  about  a  week.  Here  we  parted.  I  then  proceeded 
to  Tiger  river,  where  I  arrived  safe  on  the  1st  of  June,  1778. 
Myself,  and  Samuel  Smith,  now  associated,  and  wrere  taken 
by  a  company  of  rebels  commanded  by  a  Capt.  Goiry.  We 
made  our  escape  the  second  night,  by  bribing  the  sentinel, 
and  parted  company.  I  met  with  one  of  the  horses  belong 
ing  to  the  rebels,  about  a  mile  from  the  house  I  had  escaped 
from,  and  mounted  him.  They  persued  me  through  the 
woods  by  the  horse's  tracks,  upwards  of  seventy  miles,  and 
came  to  Reburn's  Creek,  where  I  lived.  They  were  anxious 
to  recover  their  horse  from  me,  and  promised  for  to  return 
one  of  the  four  they  had  taken  from  me,  if  I  would  deliver 
up  the  said  horse.  This  being  agreed  upon,  I  went  with 
them  for  to  receive  my  own  horse  back ;  when  we  had  ad 
vanced  30  miles  we  came  near  to  where  a  rebel  fort  was  ;  I 
desired  them  to  go,  a  little  out  of  the  way,  and  avoid  it, 
which  they  had  promised  to  do  before  we  proceeded  on  our 
journey.  One  of  them  laid  hold  of  my  horse's  bridle,  and 


told  me  to  surrender  myself  a  prisoner,  for  they  were  deter 
mined  to  confine  me  in  the  Fort,  or  carry  me  to  Ninety  Six 
goal,  about  80  miles  off.  They  said  I  was  not  in  that 
damned  tory  country  at  that  time.  I,  therefore,  after  some 
conversation,  concluded  to  submit  for  to  be  disarmed  at  the 
time,  as  they  threatened  blowing  a  ball  through  me  every 
instant,  if  I  did  not  surrender  ;  which  I  did.  On  my  arrival 
at  the  Fort,  I  was  stript  'of  my  clothes,  and  confined  close 
'till  morning,  when  they  tied  my  legs  under  a  horse's  belly, 
and  took  me  before  a  magistrate  to  commit  me  to  goal. 
However  'I  was  admitted  to  bail  for  my  good  behaviour. 
On  my  return  to  the  people,  who  took  my  horse,  and  clothes, 
and  asking  for  them,  I  was  retaken  before  another  magis 
trate,  and  committed  to  goal,  under  a  strong  guard.  On 
my  proceeding  towards  the  goal,  the  guard  was  particularly 
careful  about  securing  me  ;  and  in  order  for  to  do  it,  the 
more  effectually  tied  me  with  a  rope,  to  a  stout  fellow  who 
was  one  of  them.  When  I  found  him  asleep,  I  took  the 
opportunity  to  cut  myself  loose  with  a  knife  (or  rather  with 
a  pair  of  horse  fleames)  which  was  accidently  left  lying  in 
the  road,  and  throwing  myself  out  of  the  window  made  my 
escape,  and  took  to  the  mountains  for  shelter.  I  continued 
there,  for  some  time,  when  Col.  Mills  of  the  Loyal  Militia  on 
knowing  where  I  was,  proposed  at  several  meetings,  we  had, 
to  raise  a  company  ;  which  we  did,  of  500  men,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  going  to  St.  Augustine.  One  of  the  company  proved 
faithless,  and  gave  information  to  the  Rebels,  who  imme 
diately  embodied  themselves,  and  took  Col.  Mills  prisoner, 
with  16  of  the  company,  and  carried  them  off  to  Salisbury 
Jail.  Myself  with  14  more  persued  about  20  miles  with  an 
intention  of  rescuing  them,  until  we  were  in  sight  of  Gilbert 
Town ;  where  the  Rebels  had  a  guard  ;  and  finding  we  could 
not  effect  our  purpose  at  that  time,  our  numbers  being  so 
small,  and  theirs  increasing,  we  returned  back.  The  Rebels 
persued  us  all  night,  and  in  the  morning,  we  perceived  them 
5 


[8] 

within  shot  of  us  ;  we  fired  upon  them,  which  they  returned  ; 
and  continued  skirmishing  with  them  in  the  woods  about  an 
hour ;  when  they  retreated.  What  injury  we  did  them  we 
could  not  tell ;  on  our  part  we  suffered  no  loss.  Here  our 
party  separated.  I  made  way  for  Hoist  en  River  about  140 
miles  through  the  woods — I  had  proceeded  about  40  miles 
on  my  way,  when  I  was  met  by  three  men  ;  one  of  which 
knew  me.  He  came  to  me,  with  seeming  friendship,  and  on 
taking  my  hand,  called  his  companions  to  assist  him  in  se 
curing  me ;  which  they  did ;  and  made  me  a  prisoner. 
They  tied  my  hands  behind  my  back,  and  feet  to  each  other 
under  the  horses  belly  and  took  me  to  Ninety-Six  Jail  again, 
where  I  was  closely  confined  for  17  days.  During  my  con 
finement  I  got  acquainted  with  a  friend  to  the  government, 
who  lived  there,  by  talking  to  him  through  the  grates ;  He 
furnished  me  with  two  files  and  a  knife,  by  which  means  I 
cut  through  the  iron  bars  and  escaped.  I  returned  again  to 
Reburn's  Creek  and  after  remaining  some  time  in  the  woods 
there,  I  was  advised  by  friends  for  to  make  peace  with  Capt. 
Gillian,  who  commanded  a  company  of  Rebels  on  the  In 
dian  lines.  He  I  durst  not  be  seen  by  any  one  of  the  Rebel 
party,  I  got  one  of  my  friends  to  go  to  him,  and  desire  him 
to  meet  me  alone,  at  a  particular  place,  and  give  him  my 
word  I  would  not  injure  him.  We  met  accordingly,  and 
passed  our  words  not  for  to  disturb  or  injure  each  other.  We 
continued  our  meetings,  in  the  woods,  generally,  every  day, 
or  two,  for  the  space  of  a  month  ;  until  we  were  discovered 
by  some  of  his  company  ;  who  threatened  for  to  have  him 
punished  for  treating  with  me ;  however  he  still  met  me, 
now  and  then,  and  introduced,  a  friend  of  his,  to  me  ;  who 
he  told  me,  I  might  depend  upon.  One  day,  I  observed  an 
alteration  in  their  behaviours,  and  asked  them  when  at  some 
distance,  if  he  meant  for  to  keep  his  word  with  me,  He  re 
plied  "  by  all  means."  We  were  all  on  horseback,  and  I  had 
my  rifle  across  my  saddle.  When  we  were  going  to  part,  as 


[  9  1 

I  expected,  he  suddenly  seized  my  rifle ;  and  the  man  who 
\vas  with  him  seized  hold  of  my  horse's  bridle,  he  presented 
his  rifle  to  my  breast  and  told  me  I  was  his  prisoner,  or  a 
dead  man.  I  was  under  the  necessity  to  surrender,  and  they 
carried  me  again  to  my  old  quarters  at  Ninety-Six,  where 
we  arrived  on  the  llth  of  Oct'r  1778.  I  was  stripped  en 
tirely  naked,  thrown  int.o  irons  and  chained  to  the  floor.  I 
remained  in  that  situation  until  the  20th  of  December  follow 
ing,  when  I  again  made  shift,  for  to  get  my  irons  off,  and 
having  sawed  one  of  the  grates  some  time  before,  I  again 
escaped  by  means  of  a  fellow  prisoner,  who  supplied  me  with 
some  old  clothes,  of  which  I  made  a  rope  to  let  me  down  ;  I 
received  a  fall  in  getting  down,  but  luckily  did  not  hurt  my 
self.  The  Goalor  heard  me  fall,  and  presented  a  musket  at 
me,  out  of  a  window ;  but  I  avoided  him.  He  alarmed  the 
guard  and  they  persued  me  ;  but  however  I  got  clear  off.  I 
found  myself  much  hurt  by  a  fall  I  got  in  their  chasing  me. 
I  got  back  to  Reburn's  Creek  ;  but  was  taken  in  three  days  ; 
and  again  introduced  at  Ninety-Six.  I  was  chained  and 
ironed  as  before,  in  the  centre  of  a  room  30  feet  square  ; 
forty-five  from  the  ground,  the  snow  beating  in,  through  the 
roof,  with  4  grates  open  night  and  day.  I  remained  in  this 
state  eleven  days ;  I  got  my  chains  off  in  the  night  of  the 
12th  ;  The  Goaler  did  not  chain  me  down  again  ;  but  I  had 
still  part  of  them  remaining  on  one  of  my  legs,  which  weighed 
seven  pounds  and  three  quarters.  I  continued  loose  in  Goal 
until  the  13th  of  February  1779,  when  I  took  a  bar  out  of  the 
window,  in  the  night,  and  prised  one  of  the  planks  out  of  the 
floor  of  the  Room,  and  from  thence  went  down  stairs ;  I 
found  the  door  fast,  secured ;  but  I  went  to  a  breach,  I  had 
formerly  made  in  the  back  of  the  chimney,  and  got  out. 
One  of  my  fellow  prisoners  escaped  with  me,  and  we  kept 
together  for  some  time  after.  We  found  a  number  of  Horses 
grazing  in  a  field  belonging  to  a  company  of  Rebels,  under 
the  command  of  Capt.  Fair;  who  that  night  come  into 


[  10] 

Town.  We  mounted  each  of  us,  and  rode  off  to  Reburn's 
Creek.  On  our  way,  we  stopped  at  a  house,  and  furnished 
ourselves  with  a  Rifle  and  a  pair  of  pistols  ;  we  also  supplied 
ourselves  with  clothing.  By  this  time,  the  neighbourhood 
was  alarmed,  and  the  rebel  militia  sent  in  persuit  of  us. 
They  laid  several  ambuscades,  but  without  effect,  and  con 
tinued  embodied,  for  six  months,  I  was  so  fortunate  as  for 
to  escape  ;  but  my  companion  was  taken.  The  day  after,  he 
was  taken,  I  was  riding  through  a  piece  of  timbered  woods, 
when  I  discovered  a  party  of  men — they  discovered  me,  and 
persued  on  full  speed  for  seven  miles ;  but  I  was  lucky 
enough  to  escape  them  ;  but  my  Horse  falling,  threw  me, 
and  I  unfortunately  lost  my  rifle.  An  advertizement  was, 
then,  made  public,  for  apprehending  me ;  and  a  reward  of 
Seventy  silver  dollars,  and  Three  Hundred  paper  ones,  was 
offered  to  take  me.  This  made  me  very  cautious,  notwith 
standing  which  I  was  betrayed,  and  fired  upon  by  a  party  of 
Rebels,  in  number,  sixteen ;  I  received  two  bullets  in  my 
back  ;  one  of  which  is  not  extracted.  I  luckily  kept  my  seat 
in  the  saddle,  and  rode  off.  After  proceeding  12  miles  I 
turned  mv  horse  into  the  woods,  and  remained  there  eia-ht 

*'  O 

days  ;  having  no  support  but  herbs,  except  three  eggs ;  my 
wounds,  at  this  time  being  troublesome  and  offencive,  for 
the  want  of  dressing,  I  got  my  Horse  again,  and  moved 
about  12  miles  to  a  friend's  house ;  where  on  my  arrival,  I 
made  a  signal,  which  they  knew,  to  acquaint  them,  of  my 
being  alive — a  young  girl  of  fourteen  years  old,  came  to  me  ; 
but  when  she  came  near  enough  to  see  me,  she  was  fright 
ened  so  at  the  sight,  she  run  off.  I  persued  after  her  on 
horseback,  telling  her  who  I  was ;  She  said  she  new  it  was 
me,  but  I  was  dead ;  that  I  was,  then,  a  spirit  and  stunk  yet. 
I  was  a  long  time  before  I  could  get  her  to  come  to  me,  I 
looked  so  much  like  a  rack  of  nothing  but  skin  and  bones, 
and  my  wounds  had  not  been  dressed,  and  my  clothes  all 
bloody.  My  misery  and  situation  was  beyond  explanation, 


[  11  ] 

and  no  friend  in  the  world  that  I  could  depend  upon  ;  How 
ever,  these  people  seeing  me  in  that  distrest  situation,  took 
the  greatest  care  of  me,  and  dresst  my  wounds.  My  horse 
having  been  seen  by  some  of  the  Rebel  party,  they  concluded 
I  was  not  killed ;  and  wrote  several  letters  which  they  gave 
one  of  my  friends,  offering  to  treat  with  me ;  and  advising 
me  to  surrender  ;  threatening  at  the  same  time,  in  case  I  did 
not,  to  banish  eight  families  of  my  friends  out  of  South  Caro 
lina.  A  limited  time  was  given  for  my  answer,  but  it  had 
expired,  before  that  I  received  the  letters  ;  in  consequence 
of  which,  their  threats  were  put  in  execution  ;  and  the  peo 
ple's  properties  was  taken  from  them,  and  they  confined. 
On  the  receipt  of  my  letter,  the  people  were  liberated,  but 
their  properties  were  still  detained. 

The  second  day,  after,  I  treated  with  the  Colonel  of  the 
Rebel  Militia,  and  had  an  express  sent  off  to  Gov.  Rutledge 
at  Charlestown,  about  a  week  after  his  answer  came  back 
with  a  conditional  pardon  for  that  which  I  had  done,  should 
be  forgotten,  and  that  I  should  live  quietly  and  peacefully 
at  home  ;  and  be  obliged  to  pilot  parties  through  the  woods 
as  occation  might  require. 

Before  I  excepted  of  these  conditions,  I  advised  with  my 
friends,  and  company,  who  all  approved  of  it,  as  it  conduced 
both  to  their  ease,  and  safety. 

I  remained  at  home  a  year  and  twelve  days,  and  was  re 
peatedly  urged  for  to  except  of  a  company  in  the  Continental 
service,  which  I  always  refused. 

After  the  reduction  of  Charlestown,  myself  and  one  "Wil 
liam  Ctiningham,6  concluded  for  to  embody  a  party  of  men, 
which  we  affected. 

We  determined  for  to  take  CoFn  Williams,  of  the  Rebel 
Militia,  prisoner,  and  then  to  join  Capt.  Parish,  who  was  to 
raise  a  company  and  assist  us.  Col'n  Williams  got  notice 
of  it,  and  pushed  off;  and  though  we  got  sight  of  him,  he 
escaped  us. 


[  12  ] 

We  now  found  ourselves  growing  strong,  and  numbers 
flocking  daily  to  ns. 

I  then  took  the  King's  proclamations  and  distributed 
them  through  the  country,  for  upwards  of  a  hundred 
miles. 

Capt.  Parish  had  command  of  the  party,  and  marched  up 
to  Ninety-six,  which  he  took  command  of,  without  firing  a 
shot,  where  I  found  him  again.  The  day  after,  we  marched 
about  12  miles,  to  Gen.  Williamson's  at  Whitehall  ;  who 
commanded  a  fort  with  14  swivels,  and  two  companies  of 
provincial  troops.  On  our  approach,  he  met  us,  about  three 
miles  of  the  Fort,  attended  by  several  officers,  requesting  he 
might  discharge  the  troops,  and  have  protection  for  himself 
and  them. 

We  granted  him  what  he  requested  ;  and  took  possession 
of  the  Fort,  and  their  arms,  which  they  piled  up  ;  after  that 
they  marched  out  of  the  garrison. 

Three  days  after  that,  Col.  Pickins,  with  300  men,  marched 
out  and  laid  down  their  arms. 

General  Robert  Cunningham,  of  the  Loyal  Militia,  now 
took  the  command  ;  and  formed  a  camp. 

We  kept  scouting  parties,  through  the  country,  and  had 
many  skirmishes ;  but  none  of  consequence. 

After  the  British  American  troops,  had  taken  possession 
of  Ninety-six,  I  continued  scouting  on  the  Indian  lines, 
until  Col.  Innis  forwarded  his  march  up  to  Musgrovi  Mill, 
on  the  Innoree  River,  I  then  joined  them  with  a  party  of 
fourteen  men. 

The  following  morning  the  picketts  were  attacked  by  a 
party  of  Rebels.  Col.  Innis  ordered  us  to  advance  and  sup 
port  them,  which  we  did,  and  followed  them  until  we 
arrived  where  the  main  body  lay,  under  Col.  Williams. 
Col.  Innis  was  unfortunately  wounded,  with  several  other 
officers. 

We  engaged  them  for  sometime,  and  then  retreated  about 


[  13  ] 

a  mile  and  a  quarter ;  where  we  encamped  and  in  the  night, 
marched  off  towards  Ninety-six,  under  command  of  Capt. 
Depister.7 

The  next  morning  I,  and  my  small  party  returned  back  to 
the  Indian  lines.  We  continued  scouting  on  the  lines,  for 
sometime,  until  I  met  with  Capt.  Parish,  of  the  British 
American  South  Carolina  Regiment,  who  gave  me  a  list  of 
some  soldiers  that  he  had  permission  for  to  visit  their  friends 
in  the  country,  on  the  return  from  Florida  to  Ninety-six,  I 
was  desired  by  him  for  to  go  to  give  them  notice  for  to  join 
their  regiments.  On  this  expedition,  I  fell  in  with  Major 
Forgessons8  party,  which  was  defeated,  five  days  afterwards. 
The  Rebels  after  that,  began  to  be  numerous  and  trouble 
some  ;  and  little  or  no  regulation  amongst  us.  I  made  the 
best  of  my  way  to  Deep  River,  North  Carolina,  where  I 
remained  until  the  month  of  February,  1781. 

I  was,  during  this  time,  discovering  the  disposition  of  the 
people  ;  being  informed  that  Lord  Cornwallis  was  marching 
that  way,  I  kept  my  intentions  secret,  until  I  received  cer 
tain  accounts.  I  then  caused  this  advertisement  to  be  pub 
lished,  and  used  all  my  influence  to  get  all  the  Loyalists  to 
join  me,  and  defend  ourselves  when  occasion  might  require. 
A  true  copy  of  which  is  here  set  forth. 


r 


"  ADVERTISEMENT. 


If  any  of  his  Majesty's  loyal  and  faithful  subjects,  able 
and  willing  to  serve  in  the  Royal  North  Carolina  Regiment 
commanded  by  Col.  Hamilton,  are  hereby  requested  to  re 
pair  to  his  encampment.  The  Bounty  allowed  for  each  man, 
is  three  Guineas  ;  and  the  terms  of  the  engagement  are  that 
he  shall  serve  during  the  Rebellion,  and  within  the  Provinces 
of  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  Virginia  only  ;  that 
during  his  service  he  shall  be  entitled  to  Clothing,  Pay,  Pro 
visions,  and  all  the  advantages  of  his  Majesty's  Regular,  and 
Provincial  Troops,  and  at  the  end  of  the  Rebellion,  when  he 


[  14  ] 

becomes  discharged,  of  course,  he  is  to  receive  as  a  reward 
for  his  services  during  the  war,  a  free  grant  of  Land  agreea 
ble  to  his  Majesty's  proclamation."} 

Of  his9  persuing  Gen.  Greene,  as  far  as  Hillsboro,  this 
struck  such  a  terror  on  the  Rebels,  and  was  so  pleasing  to 
us,  that  we  immediately  disarmed  the  disaffected  and  em 
bodied  about  300  men  under  the  command  of  Col.  Pyles. 
He  fell  in  with  a  party  of  Rebels  (Col.  Lee's  dragoons)  and 
lost  20  men  killed,  besides  the  wounded,  that  died  after 
wards.  At  this  time  I  was  with  a  small  party  at  Deep 
River,  where  I  took  two  Rebel  officers,  prisoners  and  sev 
eral  soldiers.  I  then  directed  my  march  where  I  left  Col. 
Pyles  and  came  within  a  little  distance  of  the  Dragoons, 
that  had  cut  him  up,  when  I  was  informed  of  his  misfortune 
by  some  of  his  party  that  had  fled  ;  we  then  separated  into 
small  parties  and  took  to  the  woods  for  sometime. 

The  day  Lord  Cornwallis  defeated  Gen.  Greene  at  Guild- 
ford,10  I  was  surprized  by  a  Captain  Duck,  with  a  company 
of  Rebels,  where  I  sustained  a  loss  of  all  our  Horses,  and 
aj?ms  ;  we  had  one  man  killed  on  each  side. 

The  day  following,  myself,  and  three  more  of  the  com 
pany,  furnished  ourselves  with  arms,  and  persued  the  Rebels, 
who  we  discovered  had  gone  to  their  respective  homes  with 
their  plunder.  We  visited  one  of  their  houses  and  found 
the  horses  which  had  been  taken  from  the  friends  of  the 
Government ;  and  discovering  one  of  the  said  party  in  an 
out  house,  I  fired  at  him,  and  wounded  him  in  the  neck 
with  buckshot ;  but  he  escaped.  We  then  mounted  our 
selves,  and  turning  the  other  horses  into  the  woods,  we  re 
turned  back  to  Deep  River./  We  kept  concealed  in  the 
woods  and  collected  25  mefiTnaving  scouts  out  continually 
until  we  proceeded  to  Dixon's  Mill,  Cane  Creek,  where  Lord 
Cornwallis  was  there  encamped.  On  our  arrival  there  his 
Lordship  met  us,  and  asked  me  several  questions  respecting 
the  situation  of  the  country,  and  disposition  of  the  people. 


[  15] 

I  gave  him  all  the  information  in  my  power,  and  leaving 
the  company  with  his  Lordship,  I  returned  back  to  Deep 
river  in  order  for  to  conduct  more  men  to  the  protection  of 
the  British  arms. 

Two  days  following,  I  returned  to  the  army  at  Chatham 
Court  house,  after  being  surprised  and  dispersed  by  the 
Rebel  Dragoons  ;  on  my  bringing  in  70  Loyalists.  I  joined 
my  company  again  and  went  with  his  Lordship,  to  Cross 
Creek,  and  as  we  had  lost  most  of  our  horses,  we  determined 
to  return,  to  Deep  River,  and  join  his  Lordship  when  on  his 
way  to  Hillsborough.  General  Green  followed  his  Lord 
ship  as  far  as  Little  River,  and  then  returned  to  Ramseys 
Mills  on  his  way  to  Camden  ;  his  men  marched  in  small 
parties  and  distressed  the  friends  to  Government,  through 
the  Deep  River  settlement ;  I  took  18  of  them  at  different 
times,  and  paroled  them,  and  after  that  we  were  not  dis 
tressed  by  them  for  some  little  time  ;  after  a  little  while 
some  of  us  had  assembled  at  a  friends  house,  where  we  were 
surrounded  by  a  party  of  1-i  Rebels  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  John  Hinds ;  we  perceived  their  approach  and  pre 
pared  for  to  receive  them ;  when  they  had  got  quite  near  us, 
we  run  out  of  the  doors  of  the  house,  fired  upon  them,  and 
killed  one  of  them  ;  on  which  we  took  three  of  their  horses, 
and  some  firelocks — we  then  took  to  the  woods  and  unfor 
tunately  had  two  of  our  little  company  taken,  one  of  which 
the  Rebels  shot  in  cold  blood,  and  the  other  they  hung  on 
the  spot  where  we  had  killed  the  man  a  few  days  before — 
We  were  exasperated  at  this,  that  we  determined  to  have 
satisfaction,  and  in  a  few  days  I  collected  17  men  well 
armed,  and  formed  an  ambuscade  on  Deep  River  at  Coxe's 
Mills,  and  sent  out  spies.  In  the  course  of  two  hours,  one  of 
my  spies  gave  me  information  of  a  party  of  Rebels  plunder 
ing  his  house,  which  was  about  three  miles  off.  I  instantly 
marched  to  the  place  and  discovered  them  in  a  field  near  the 
house.  I  attacked  them  immediately,  and  kept  up  a  smart 
6 


[  16  ] 

fire  for  half  an  hour,  during  which  time,  we  killed  their 
Captain,  and  one  private,  on  the  spot — wounded  three  of 
them,  and  took  two  prisoners  besides  eight  of  their  horses 
well  appointed,  and  several  swords.     This  happened  on  the 
llth   of  May,  1781.     The  same    day,  we  persued  another 
party  of  Rebels,  and  came  up  with  them  the  morning  fol 
lowing  ;  we  attacked  them  smartly  and  killed  4  of  them  on 
the  spot  wounded  3  dangerously  and  took  one  prisoner  with 
all  their  horses,  and  appointments.     In  about  an  hour  after 
that,  we  took  two  men  of  the  same  party,  and  killed  one 
more   of  them ;  the   same   evening  we  had  intelligence  of 
another  party  of  Rebels,  which  were  assembling  about  30 
miles  off  in  order  for  to  attack  us ;  as  I  thought  it  best  to 
surprize   them  where  they   were   collecting,  I  marched  all 
night  and  about  10  o'clock  next  morning,  we  came  up  with 
them  ;  we  commenced  a  fire  upon  each  other,  which  con 
tinued  for  about  10  minutes  when  they  retreated  ;  we  killed 
two  of  them,  and  wounded  7,  and  took  18  horses  well  ap 
pointed  ;    we  then  returned  to  Deep  River  again — I  still 
kept  the  company  together,  and  waited  for  another  oppor 
tunity,   during   which  time,  I  took  two  Rebel  soldiers  and 
parolled  them,  who  gave  me  information  of  a  Col.  Dudley 
coming  from  Gen'l  Greens  camp  at  Camden,  with  baggage. 
I  mounted  my  men  and  set  forward  in  search  of  them  ;  and 
I  concealed  my  men  by  the  side  of  the  road  ;  and  I  thought 
the  time  long  ;  according  to  information  I  had  from  the  sol 
diers — I  took  one  man  with  me.  and  went  to  see  if  I  could 
make  any  discovery.     I  rode  a  mile  and  a  half,  when  I  saw 
Col.  Dudley  with  his  baggage — I  then  wheeled  my  horse,  and 
returned  to  my  men  ;  where  I  came  within  a  hundred  yards 
of  them,  Dudley  and  his  Dragoons  was  nose  and  tail  and 
snaped  their  pistols  several  times.     I,  then,  ordered  a  march 
after  them,  and  after  marching  2-J  miles  I  discovered  them, 
and  immediately  took  three  of  them  prisoners,  with  all  the 
baggage  and  nine  Horses.     The  baggage  I  divided  among 


my  Men,  which  agreeably  to  Col.  Dudley's  report  was  val 
ued  at  £1,000  sterling.  I  returned  to  Coxe's  Mill  and  re 
mained  there  till  the  8th  June ;  when  the  Rebels  embodied 
ICO  men  to  attack  me,  under  the  command  of  Cols.  Colly er 
and  Balfour.  I  determined  to  get  the  advantage  by  attack 
ing  them,  which  I  did  with  49  men  in  the  night,  after  march 
ing  10  miles  to  their  encampment.  They  took  one  of  my 
guides,  which  gave  them  "notice  of  my  approach  :  I  proceeded 
within  thirty  steps  of  them  ;  but  being  unacquainted  with 
the  grounds,  advanced  very  cautiously.  The  sentinel,  how 
ever,  discovered  my  party,  and  firing  upon  us,  retreated.. 
They  secured  themselves  under  cover  of  the  houses,  and 
fences  ;  the  firing  then  began  ;  and  continued  on  both  sides 
for  the  space  of  four  hours  ;  being  very  cloudy  and  dark — 
during  which  time  I  had  one  man  killed,  and  six  wounded  ; 
and  the  guide,  before  mentioned,  taken  prisoner  ;  whom  they 
killed  next  morning  in  cold  blood.  What  injury  they  suf 
fered,  I  could  not  learn  ;  As  the  morning  appeared,  we  re 
treated,  and  returned  again  to  Deep  River ;  leaving  our 
.wounded  men  at  a  friend's  house,  privately. 

The  Rebels  then  kept  a  constant  scouting,  and  their  num- 
1*  bers  was  so  great,  that  we  had  to  lay  still  for  sometime  ;  and 
when  Collier  and  Balfour  left  the  settlement,  he  the  said 
Colonel  Dudley,  before  mentioned,  took  the  place  with  300 
men  from  Virginia.  He  took  a  negro  man  from  me  and 
sold  him  at  public  auction  for  110  pounds;  the  said  negro 
was  sent  over  the  mountains,  and  I  never  saw  him  since. 
At  length  they  all  began  to  scatter ;  and  we  to  embody. 
William  Elwood  being  jelous  of  my  taking  too  much  com 
mand  of  the  men,  and  in  my  absence,  one  day,  he  persuaded 
them  that  I  was  a  going  to  make  them  regular  soldiers,  and 
cause  them  to  be  attached  to  Col.  John  Hamilton's11  Regi- 

c> 

ment ;  and  vindicated  it,  by  an  advertisement,  that  I  had 
handed  to  several  of  the  Loyalists;  that  I  thought  had  the 
greatest  influence  with  the  Loyalists.  He  so  prevailed  with 


[   18] 

the  common  sort,  that  when  I  came  to  camp  I  found  most  of 
my  men  gone  ;  I,  then,  declared  I  never  would  go  on  an 
other  scout,  until  there  was  a  Field  Officer.  The  majority 
chose  me ;  They,  then,  drew  up  a  petition  to  the  command 
ing  officer  of  the  King's  troops. 

A  general  meeting  of  the  Loyalists  was  nowr  called,  in 
order,  for  to  appoint  a  commanding  officer  of  the  Militia  ;  it 
was  still  determined  that  I  should  be  the  person.  I  accord 
ingly  set  oif,  for  Wilmington,  being  160  miles,  with  a  petition 
of  the  people,  to  the  officer  commanding,  at  that  post,  for  his 
approbation.  On  my  arrival  there  Major  Craig,  who  com 
manded,  treated  me,  with  every  respect,  and  approved  of  said 
petition ;  and  gave  a  commission  as  Col.  of  the  Randolplx_and 
Chatham  Militia — a  copy  of  which  is  hereunto  annexed.  / 

"  By  James  Henry  Craigg,  Esqr.  ;  Major  in  his  Majesty's 

S2d  Reg.  commanding  a  detachment  of  the  King's  Troops 

in  North  Carolina,  &c.,  &c. 

To  David  Fanning,  Esqr. 

These  are  to  appoint  you,  to  be  Colonel  of  the  Loyal 
Militia,  in  Randolph,  and  Chatham,  Counties,  who  are  di 
rected  to  obey  you,  as  such,  in  all  lawful  commands,  what- 
soaver ;  and  you  are  authorized  to  grant  commissions  to 
the  necessary  persons  of  known  attachment  to  his  Majesty's 
person,  and  Government,  to  act  as  Captains  and  subalterns 
to  the  different  companies  of  Militia  aforesaid.  As  Colonel, 
you  are  hereby  fully  impowered  to  assemble  the  militia,  and 
lead  them  against  any  parties  of  Rebels,  or  others ;  the 
King's  enemies,  as  often  as  necessary — to  compel  all  per 
sons  whatsoever  to  join  you — to  seize  and  disarm,  and  when 
necessary  to  detain,  in  confinement,  all  Rebels  or  others, 
acting  against  his  Majesty's  Gov't ;  and  to  do  all  other  acts 
becoming  a  King's  officer,  and  good  subject. 

Given  at  Wilmington,  this  5th  July,  1781. 

J.  H.  CEAIGG, 
Major,  Commanding  the  King's  Troops" 


[  19  ] 

On  the  12th  July,  I  returned  from  Wilmington,  and 
ordered  a  general  Muster ;  and  then  gave  the  following 
commission  to  the  gentlemen  hereinafter  named  of  their 
respective  companies. 

By  David  Fanning  Esq 
Colonel  of  the  Loyal  Militia  of  No  Ca. 
To  —  Greeting 

Having  received  sufficient  testimony  of  your  Loyalty  and 
Zeal  for  his  Majesty's  Service  and  relying  on  your  courage 

and  good  conduct  I  do  hereby  appoint  you  to  be  

of  a  company  in  the  district  of  —    — .     You  are, 

therefore,  diligently  and  carefully  to  discharge  the  duty 
of  such ;  obeying  all  orders  and  directions,  which  you  may 
receive  from  time  to  time,  from  any  superior  officers-,  in 
his  Majesty's  Service,  and  all  others ;  The  inferior  officers 
of  his  Majesties  subjects,  of  that  and  every  other  company 
are  directed  and  requested  to  obey  you  as  -  -  of 

said  company. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  Coxe's  Mill  this  —  -  1781. 

DAVID  FANNING 
Col.  Corrfg  his  Majesties  Loyal  Malitia,  <&c. 


The  names  of  the  Officers  of  Randolph  County,  as  they  was 
corn-missioned  in  their  different  companies 

1.  John  Rains,  Capt,  16  July,  (promoted  maj'r  13  Oct.  1781. 
William  Rains,  Lt. 

Thomas  Donnelly  Ensign. 
John  Spinks  Ser.  Maj. 

2.  Geo.  Rains,  Capt.     In  Charleston  at  the  peace. 
Ebenezer  Wollaston,  Lt,  do. 

Robt.  Rains  Ensign  -     in  N.  C. 

3.  Wm.  Fincaimon,  Capt.     -  -     in  N.  C,  now 
Rich'd  Bird,  Lieut.  -  do. 
Cornelius  Latham,  Ensign                                         do. 


[  20] 

4th.  Michael  Robens  Capt.  last  account  in  N".  C. 
William  Hillis,  Lt.  in  Florida  at  the  peace. 
Daniel  Brown,  Ensign,  killed  in  N.  C.  by  the  Rebels. 

5.  Robert  Turner,12  Capt.  in  K  C. 
Absolem  Autrey,  Lt.                                               in  Florida. 
Win.  King,  Ens.        -                           -      joined  the  Rebels. 

6.  Stephen  Walker,  Capt.     -  -  murdered. 
Frederick  Smith,  Lt.     hanged  at  Hillsboro,  for  his  loy 
alty. 

Win  Hunsucker,  Ens.  do.                   do. 

7.  Jos.  Currie,  Capt.  In  Florida  at  the  peace. 
Benj.  Shields,  Lt.  in  K  C. 
Jas.  Rains,  Ens.  in  S.  C. 


The  names  of  the  Officers  of  the  different  Companies  in  Cha 
tham  County. 

8.  Thomas  Dark  Capt.     Hanged  at  Hillsboro  for  his  loy 

alty. 

Win.  Iloocker  Lt.  Murdered  by  the  Rebels. 

Henry  Ramsour  Ens.  In  Charleston  S.  C.  at  the  peace. 

9.  Win.  Lindley,  Capt.  Murdered  by  the  Rebels. 
Wm.  Peles,  Lt.  Went  to  Penns. 
Wm.  McPherson,  Ens.  In  Charleston. 

10.  Sam'l  Dark,  Capt.  At  last  account  in  1ST.  C. 
James  Ellett,  Lt.  Drowned  in  Florida 
Thos.  Ellett  Ensign.  In  Florida 

11.  Benj.  Underwood  Capt.,  late  in  New  Brunswick 

Fred.  Smith,  Lt,  in  K  C. 

Adam  Smith,  Ens.  "       " 

12.  Wm.  Deaton  Capt.     Killed  in  battle  on  the  day  after 

the  rebel,  Gov.  Burke  was  taken. 

Wm.  Carr  Lt.  In  West  Indies 

John  Erwen,  Ens.  Florida. 


[21  ] 

13.  Martin  Kendrick  Capt.  N.  C. 

Thos.  McDowell  rebel  Capt. 

Wm.  Brown  joined  the  Rebels 


Names  of  Officers  in  Orange  co. 

14.  Rich'd  Edwards,  Capt.  Killed  in  battel 
Edward  Edwards,  Lieut.  do  13tli  Sept. 
Thos.  Estwick,  Ensign — 

15.  Stephen  Holloway,  Capt.  Killed  in  battle 
John  Hastings,  Lieut.  Now  in  N.  C. 
Ab'm  Kelson.  Ens. 


The  names  of  the  Officers  in  the  different  Companies  in  Cum 
berland  County. 

16.  John  Cagle,  Capt.  Hanged  by  the  Rebels  at  P.  D. 
Jacob  Maunep,  Lieut.  In  N.  C. 
"Win.  Dunn,  Ensign 

17.  Meriday  Edwards  Capt.  East  Florida 
Reuben  Shields,  Lieut.  N.  C. 
Wm.  Hancock,  Ens. 

18.  Alex.  Mclver,  Capt. 

Murdock  Martin,  Lt  England 

19.  Wm.  McLoud,  Capt. 
Alex'r  McLoud,  Lt. 


The  names  of  the  Officers  in  Anson  county. 

20.  Wm.  Price,  Capt.  Killed  by  the  Rebels. 
Win.  Fanning  Lt.  hanged. 

21.  Wm.  McKnight  Capt.  Murdered. 
Stephen  Phillips  Lt.,  in  S.  C. 

22.  Abner  Smally  Capt.  in  Burke  Co.  K  C. 
Jos.  Hodge,  Lt.  murdered  by  the  Rebels. 


[22] 

Those  gentlemen  had  their  appointment  from  Major 
Ferguson  in  So.  Ca.  in  July  1TSO,  but  joined  all  according 
to  their  dates. 

On  my  return  to  Deep  River  I  immediately  caused  a  gen 
eral  Muster  of  the  Loyalists,  which  I  collected  to  the  amount 
of  150  men,  but  finding  them  deficient  in  arms  I  dis 
charged  all  of  them  except  53,  which  I  appointed  fully  ; 
out  of  which,  I  collected  from  the  whole,  and  ordered  the 
rest,  to  be  ready  to  join  me  when  I  called  for  them,  I,  also, 
gave  the  foregoing  commissions,  to  the  different  officers  set 
forth,  who  rendered  many  services  to  the  British  Govern 
ment,  during  the  late  war,  who  singulared  themselves  with 
me  in  the  interior  parts  of  that  rebellious  Country,  and 
subdued  the  greatest  part  of  the  province  ;  so  far  that  the 
worst  of  Rebels  came  to  me,  beging  protection  for  them 
selves,  and  property.  The  exertions  of  myself,  and  the 
other  officers  had  the  whole  country  under  the  protection  of 
the  British  government,  until' long  after  the  surrender  of 
Lord  Cornwallis,  and  the  evacuation  of  Wilmington  ;  and 
after  all  the  British  Troops  was  called  to  their  different 
posts  on  the  Sea  shore. 

fL  continued  acting  in  the  interior  parts  of  North  Caroli- 
/  na,  and  was  like  to  obtain  a  truce  with  the  Rebels  in  the 
heart  of  the  country.  Those  people  have  been  induced  to 
brave  every  danger  and  difficulty  during  the  late  war, 
rather  than  render  any  service  to  the  Rebels — their  proper 
ties  real  and  personal,  taken  to  support  their  enemies — the 
fatherless  and  widows  stripped,  and  every  means  of  support 
taken  from  them — their  houses  and  lands  and  all  personal 
property  taken,  and  no  resting  place,  could  be  found  for 
them.  As  to  place  them  in  their  former  possessions,  is  im 
possible — stripped  of  their  property,  driven  from  their 
Houses  ;  deprived  of  their  wives  and  child  ren — robbed  of 
a  free  and  mild  government — betrayed  and  deserted  by 
their  friends,  what  can  repay  them,  for  the  misery  ?  Drag- 


[  23  ] 

gin<r  out  a  wretched  life  of  obscurity  and  want,  Heaven, 
only,  which  smooths  the  rugged  paths,  can  reconcile  them 
to  misfortune.  Numbers  of  them  left  their  wives  and 
children  in  North  Carolina,  not  being  able  to  send  for 
them  ;  and  now  in  the  west  Indies  and  other  parts  of  the 
world  for  refuge,  and  not  returned  to  their  families  yet. 
Some  of  them,  that  returned,  under  the  act  of  oblivion 
passed  in  1783,  was  taken  to  Hillsboro,  and  hanged  for 
their  past  services  that  they  rendered  the  Government 
whilst  under  my  command.  I  am  fully  sensible  of  the 
good  designs  that  government  intends  for  the  Loyalists  in 
so  repeatedly  renewing  the  act.  I  can  solemnly  declare 
that,  I  think,  Major  John  Rains,  and  Capt.  George  Rains 
two  of  the  diservingest  officers  that  ever  acted  in  America 
during  the  late  war,  either  in  the  provintial  or  Militia  ;  and 
to  my  certain  knowledge  John  Rains  had  two  Mills  burnt ; 
three  dwelling  Houses  and  besides  a  barn,  and  property  to 
tally  taken  away.  I  have  given  a  direct  account  of  the 
officers  opposite  their  names  as  I  possibly  can  ;  also  their 
promotions  and  deaths.  "What  I  have  set  forth,  I  will 
forever  vindicate.  Besides  other  officers  of  other  counties 
that  joined  me  at  different  times,  and  places,  as  I  shall 
refer  to,  in  other  parts  of  my  Journal ;  in  particular  Col. 
Arch  McDugald13  and  Samuel  Andrews  who  joined  me 
several  times.  Given  at  Kings  County  New  Brunswick  j 
Nov  29th  1T89. 


The  Rebels  on  the  same  dav  held  a  general  muster  at 

».  O 

Chatham  Court  House,  about  twenty-five  miles,  where  I 
had  assembled,  and  the  day  following  were  to  call  a  court- 
martial  for  the  trial  of  several  Loyalists,  who  had  refused 
to  bear  arms,  in  opposition  to  government.  Upon  receiv 
ing  this  intelligence  I  proceeded,  towards  the  Court  House, 
17  miles,  that  night,  with  the  men  I  had  named ;  and  the 
7 


[24  ] 

morning  following,  by  7  o'clock,  I  arrived  there.  I  sur 
rounded  the  place,  where  they  were.  I  expected  to  find 
members  of  the  Court  Martial,  but  they  had  dispersed  the 
evening  before,  and  were  for  to  meet  at  8  o'clock.  I  then 
posted  pickets  on  every  road,  and  within  the  space  of  two 
hours,  took  53  prisoners — among  them,  the  Colonel,  Major 
and  all  the  militia  officers  of  the  county,  except  two,  who 
had  not  attended ;  and  also  one  Continental  Captain,  with 
three  of  their  delegates  of  the  General  Assembly.  I  imme- 

O  *J 

diately  marched  them  to  Coxe's  Mill,  and  parolled  all  except 
14,  who!  knew  were  violent  against  the  government.  Those 
I  conducted  to  Wilmington  and  delivered  to  Major  Craigg. 
I  then  represented  to  Major  Craigg  that  with  his  approba 
tion,  I  would  establish  certain  regulations  for  the  conduct 
of  the  militia;  which  he  approved  of,*  and  he  was  oblig 
ing  enough,  on  my  giving  them  to  him  to  correct,  and  con 
firm  ;  the  following  rules,  which  were  printed  and  distributed 
in  the  country. 

RULES  and  REGULATIONS  for  the  well  governing  the 
loyal  Militia  of  the  Province  of  North  Carolina : 

1st.  No  person  to  be  admitted  a  militia  man  until  he 
takes  the  oath  of  Allegiance  to  his  Majesty,  which  is  al 
ways  to  be  done  before  the  senior  officer  of  the  Regiment 
on  the  spot, 

2d.  All  persons  once  enrolled,  in  a  Militia  company,  and 
having  taken  the  oath  above  mentioned,  will  be  considered 
as  entitled  to  every  privilege  and  protection  of  a  British 
subject,  on  being  detected  joining  the  Rebels,  will  be  treat 
ed,  as  a  deserter,  and  traitor. 

3d.  Every  militia  man  is  to  repair,  without  fail  or  ex 
cuse,  except  sickness,  at  the  time  appointed,  to  the  place 
assigned  by  his  Col'n  or  Capt.  with  his  arms,  and  accour- 
trements,  and  is  not  to  quit  his  company,  on  any  pretence 


whatever,  without   the   knowledge   and  permission,   of  his 
Captain  or  commanding  officer. 

4:th.  The  Col'n  of  every  County  has  full  power  to  call 
his  Regiment  together,  and  march  them  when  necessary 
for  his  Majesty's  service  ;  the  Captain  of  each  company  has 
also  power,  to  assemble  his  company,  when  any  sudden 
emergency  renders  it  necessary,  and  .which  he  is  to  report 
as  soon  as  possible  to  his  "Colonel. 

5th.  Mutual  assistance  is  to  be  given  on  all  oecations  ; 
but  so  it  is  impossible  to  give  positive  directions  on  this  sub 
ject,  it  is' left  to  the  discretion  of  the  Colonels  of  Regiments, 
who  must  be  answerable  that,  their  reasons,  for  not  afford 
ing  assistance  when  required,  are  sufficient. 

6th.  When  the  Militia  of  different  counties  are  embo 
died,  the  senior  officer  is  to  Command ;  Colonels  of  Regi 
ments  are  immediately  to  determine,  the  present  rank  of 
their  Captains,  in  which,  regard  is  to  be  had  to  seniority  of 
commission  or  service.  In  cases  of  vacancies ;  the  Colo 
nels  may  grant  temporary  commissions,  till  recourse  can  be 
had  to  the  Commanding  officer  of  the  King's  troops. 

7th.  The  men  are  to  understand,  that  in  what  relates  to 
the  service  they  are  bound  to  obey  all  officers,  though  not 
immediately  belonging  to  their  own  companies. 

8th.  Court  Martials  may  sit  by  the  appointment  of  the 
Colonel  or  Commanding  officer ;  and  must  consist  for  the 
trial  of  an  officer,  of  all  the  officers  of  the  Regiment  he 
belongs,  except  the  Col'o  or  Commanding  officer,  and 
for  the  trial  of  a  non  Commissioned  Officer  or  Private,  of  2 
Captains,  2  subalterns  and  3  privates — the  latter  to  belong 
to  the  same  company,  as  the  person  to  be  tried.  The  eld 
est  Captain  to  preside ;  and  the  sentence  of  the  Court,  to  be 
determined  by  plurality  of  votes ;  and  approved  by  the 
Commanding  Officer. 

9th.  'No.  Colonel  is  to  supereede  an  officer  without  trial  ; 
but  he  may  suspend  him  'till  he  can  be  tried. 


[  26  ] 

lOtli.  Quiting  camp  without  permission,  disobedience  of 
orders,  neglect  of  duty,  plundering,  and  all  irregularities 
and  disorder  to  be  punished  at  the  discretion  of  a  Court 
Martial,  constituted  as  above  mentioned ;  and  by  the  ap 
probation  of  the  Col'ii  or  Commanding  officer ;  who  has 
power  to  pardon,  or  remit,  any  part  of  a  punishment,  but 
not  to  increase  or  alter  it. 

llth.  Every  man  must  take  the  strictest  care  of  his  arms, 
and  ammunition;  and  have  them  always  ready  for  service. 

12th.  When  the  Militia  is  not  embodied,  they  are  at  all 
times  to  be  attentive  to  the  motions  of  the  Rebels;  and  im 
mediately  to  acquaint  the  nearest  Officer  of  any  thing  he 
may  discover,  who  is  to  communicate  it  to  his  Col'n  or  other 
Officers  as  may  be  requisite. 

13th.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  person  professing  allegi 
ance  to  his  Majesty  to  communicate  to  the  Commanding 
Officer  of  the  nearest  British  port  any  intelligence  he  ban 
procure  of  the  assembling  or  moving  of  any  bodies  of  Reb 
els.  Persons  employed  on  this  occasion  shall  always  be  paid. 

14th.  Col'ns  of  Regts.  may  assemble  any  number  of  their 
men,  they  think  necessary  to  be  posted  in  particular  spots 
of  their  districts — their  time  of  service  on  these  occasions 
is  to  be  limited;  and  they  are  at  the  expiration  to  be  re 
lieved,  by  others.  Great  care  is  to  be  taken  that  no  par 
tiality  is  shown,  that  each  take  an  equal  proportion  of  duty  ; 
for  which  purpose  alphabetical  rolls  are  to  be  kept,  by 
which  the  men  are  to  be  warned.  Every  Capt,  to  keep  an 
account  of  the  number  of  days  each  man  of  his  company 
serves. 

The  strict  observance  of  the  above  regulations,  is  strongly 
recommended  as  the  best  means  of  the  King's  faithful  sub 
jects  manifest  superiority  over  the  rebel  militia ;  and  insure 
them,  that  success  their  zeal  and  spirit  in  the  cause  of  their 
country  entitles  them  to  expect. 

Head  Quarters,   Wilmington  25  Sept.  1781. 


[27] 

I  thought  proper  to  administer  the  following  oath  of 
Allegiance  unto  those  people  I  was  dubious  of.  "  I — A  B — 
do  swear  on  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God  to  bear 
true  allegiance  to  our  Sovereign  Lord,  King  George  the 
3d  ;  and  to  uphold  the  same.  I  do  voluntarily  promise  for 
to  serve  as  Militia,  under  any  officers  appointed  over  me ; 
and  that  I  will  when  lawfully  warned  by  our  said  officers 
assemble  at  any  place  by  them  directed  in  case  of  danger ; 
in  the  space  of  8  hours.  I  will  go  with  my  arms  and  accou 
trements  in  good  order,  to  supress  any  rebels  or  others,  the 
King's  enemies  ;  that  I  will  not  at  any  time  do,  or  cause  to 
be  done  any  thing  prejudicial  to  his  majesty's  goverment ; 
or  suffer  any  intercourse,  or  correspondence,  with  the  ene 
mies  thereof;  that  I  will  make  known  any  plot,  or  plots, 
any  wise  inimical  to  his  Majesty's  forces,  or  loyal  subjects, 
by  me  discovered,  to  his  majesty's  officers  contigious,  and  it 
shall  not  exceed,  six  hours,  before  the  said  is  .discovered,  if 
health  and  distance  permit.  This  I  do  solemnly  swear  and 
promise  to  defend  in  all  cases,  whatsoever.  So  help  me, 
God  !" 

I  then  returned  to  the  head  of  Little  River,  on  my  way 
to  Coxe's  Mill  :  where  I  was  met  by  two  men,  who  informed 
me  that  the  Rebels  had  separated  into  two  small  parties ; 
thinking  I  should  never  return  frm.  Wilmington :  I  passed 
on  and  got  intelligence  of  Col.  Altstine  lying  on  the  banks 
of  Deep  River,  with  a  party  of  25  men.  We  marched  all 
that  day  and  night  following ;  and  just  as  the  day  dawned, 
we  advanced  in  three  divisions,  up  to  a  house,  they  had 
thrown  themselves  into.  On  our  approach,  we  fired  upon 
the  house,  as  I  was  determined  to  make  examples  of  them, 
for  behaving  in  the  manner  they  had  done,  to  one  of  my 
pilots,  by  name,  Kenneth  Black.  They  returned  our  fire, 
and  the  action  continued  upwards  of  3  hours,  when  after 
killing  four  of  them,  and  wounding  all  the  rest,  except  three, 
they  sent  out  a  flag  to  surrender.  Col.  Altine's  lady  beging 


[  28  ] 

their  lives.  On  her  solicitation,  I  concluded  to  grant  her 
request ;  and  after  the  capitulation  I  gave  the  following 
paroles  to  Col.  Philip  Alstane  and  his  men. 

k'  I  do  hereby  acknowledge  myself  a  Prisoner  of  war,  upon 
my  parole,  to  His  Excellency  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  and  that  I 
am  hereby  engaged  till  I  shall  be  exchanged,  or  otherwise 
released  therefrom,  to  proceed  immediately  to  my  planta 
tion  on  Dunnam's  Creek,  Cumberland  county  (or  else 
where)  Xo  Carolina,  there  to  remain  ;  or  within  five  miles 
thereof — and  that  I  shall  not  in  the  mean  time,  do,  or  cause 
any  thing  to  be  done,  prejudicial  to  the  success  of  his  Majes 
ty's  arms;  nor  have  any  intercourse  or  hold  correspondence 
with  the  enemies  of  his  Majesty — and  that  upon  a  summons 
from  his  Excellency,  or  other  Person  having  authority  thereto, 
that  I  will  surrender  myself  up  to  him  or  them,  at  such  time 
and  place  as  shall  hereafter  be  required. 

PHILIP  ALSTINE 
Cumberland  County,  Col'ii. 

Deep  River;  July  29^,  1781. 
Witness ;  DAVID  FANNING,  CoVo  Going  Loyal  Militia 


In  the  course  of  this  affair,  we  had  two  men  killed,  and 
four  wounded,  who  afterwards  recovered.  A  party  of  Reb 
els  appeared  in  sight  a  little  time  after  the  tiring  began  ;  but 
they  did  not  approach  to  afford  Col.  Altstone  any  support. 
When  the  action  was  over,  they  ran  off;  and  our  horses 
being  quite  fatigued,  rendered  it  impossible  for  rne,  to  persue 
them.  I  then  persued  my  route  to  Cox's  Mill,  where  on 
my  arrival  I  gave  twelve  hours  leave  to  the  men;  after  de 
taching  a  sufficient  number  for  the  necessary  guards,  to  go 
to  their  respective  homes.  Immediately  after  that,  I  heard 
that  a  wTagon  loaded  with  salt  for  the  use  of  the  rebel  army 
had  passed  about  12  hours.  I  took  eight  men  with  me,  and 
after  a  chace  of  16  miles  I  overtook  her,  and  conducted  it 


back  to  Coxe's  Mill.  On  my  return  I  found  that  Major 
Rains,  had  been  attacked  by  a  party  of  150  rebels;  who  had 
attempted  to  secure  the  fort  of  Deep  River,  at  Coxe's  Mill ; 
however  it  was  without  success.  He  had  one  man  wounded, 
and  several  horses,  in  the  attack.  On  my  approach,  they 
retreated.  They  then  sent  a  flag  with  offers  of  peace.  I 
returned  for  answer,  "  I  was  determined  to  make  peace  with 
the  sword — or  otherwise  till  they  should  become  subjects  of 
Great  Britain."  My  men  now  being  collected  to  the  amount 
of  140,  who  by  this  time  were  well  armed,  and  hearing  noth 
ing  further  from  them,  the  next  morning,  we  marched  to  the 
place,  where  I  had  been  informed  they  were  ;  but  found 
them  gone  off.  I  discovered  some  of  their  scouts,  but  on 

& 

•firing  on  them,  they  took  to  the  woods.  I  heard,  that  they 
had  marched  and  joined  another  party  of  250  men,  com 
manded  by  Colonels  Paisley  and  Balfour.  Upon  which  I 
returned  to  Coxe's  Mill ;  I  sent  out  spies  that  night,  who 
returned  before  morning  and  informed  me  that  the  two  rebel 
parties  had  joined,  being  about  400  in  number  and  en 
camped  at  Brown's  plantation,  about  two  miles  up  the 
River  on  the  opposite  side.  I  dispatched  a  flag  to  them,  ac 
quainting  them,  as  before,  of  my  determination,  in  support  of 
Government,  and  proposed  a  meeting  of  both  parties  to  deter 
mine  the  matter  by  force  of  arms;  at  the  same  time  acquaint 
ing  them,  that  the  ill  treatment  of  some  prisoners  they  had 
taken  a  little  time  before,  had  determined  me  to  retaliate  in 
case,  an  end  was  not  put  to  it ;  I  directed  the  flag  to  Major 
Cage,  who  commanded  at  the  time  before,  and  I  received  the 
following  answer. 

"  SIR,  I  received  yours  by  a  flag,  and  can  assure  you  that 
I  should  be  as  sorry  as  any  person  living  to  misuse  a  pris 
oner;  but  at  the  same  time,  I  think  it  is  my  duty  to  oppose 
my  enemies,  and  if  any  of  your  men  should  fall  into  my 
hands  I  shall  endeavour  to  use  what  influence  I  can  to  have 
them  treated  as  prisoners ;  and  I  hope  you  will  do  the  same. 


[30] 

I  must  also  inform  you.  that  I  am  not  the  commanding 
officer;  if  I  was,  I  should  immediately  return  you,  an  an 
swer  ;  As  your  letter  was  not  directed  to  the  commanding 
officer,  he  will  not  undertake  it.  You  will  direct  to  him,  Col- 
O'neal  is  Commander  at  present. 

I  arn,  Yours,  &c.  &c.  WM.  CAGE. 

Aug.  %d,  1781; 

To  Col.  David  Fanning. 

I  also  received  a  message  from  Col.  O'neal  that  whenever 
they  met,  they  would  fight  me,  but  not  by  an  immediate 
appointment ;  I  directly  ordered  a  march  and  proceeded  to 
the  place  where  I  was  informed  by  the  Bearer  of  the  flag 
they  lay  encamped  ;  but  on  my  arrival  there,  they  had 
marched  off;  and  from  intelligence  I  had  procured,  I  had 
reason  to  suppose  they  was  gone  to  Salesbury  to  get  rein 
forced,  by  General  Rutherford.  I  then  concluded,  to  go,  to 
Wilmington  for  a  supply  of  ammunition  ;  finding  my  stock 
began  to  grow  low.  I  got  to  Cross  Creek  on  the  llth  of 
August ;  and  early  in  the  morning  following  crossed  the 
Cape  Fear  River,  when  Maj.  Samuel  Andrews  joined  me 
with  his  company  and  scouted  through  all  the  rebel  settle 
ments,  on  the  north  side  of  the  River ;  and  took  a  number 
of  prisoners,  arms  and  horses.  I  also  discovered  where  25 
barrels  of  Salt  was  concealed ;  designed  for  the  rebel  army. 
I  distroyed  it ;  and  then  marched  down  the  side ;  and  came  to 
a  plantation  belonging  to  a  Capt.  Robertson  —  which  I 
burned ;  From  thence  I  marched  to  his  brother's  Col.  Rob 
ertson,  which  served  in  the  same  manner.  On  my  march,  1 
took  several  prisoners,  whom  I  parolled,  except  20 ;  those  I 
delivered  to  Capt.  Legett,14  then  commanding  at  Wilming 
ton  ;  where  I  arrived  on  the  24th.  Having  got  supplied 
with  ammunition,  I  proceeded  up  the  country  on  the  26th. — 
On  my  arrival  at  Elizabethtown,  I  found  Col.  Slingsbee,  of 
the  Loyal  Militia  of  Bladen  county,  with  a  number  of  pa 
roled  rebels,  in  his  camp.  I  disapproved  of  keeping  them, 


[  31  ] 

tli ere,  and  told  him  I  thought  it  imprudent,  and  unsafe.  The 
event  proved  so;  for  that  night,  they,  having  arms  con 
cealed,  fired  upon  his  camp,  and  wounded  him  mortally. 
Five  Captains  also  were  wounded,  some  of  M'hom  died  after 
wards  of  their  wounds.  The  day  following  I  arrived  at  Me 
Falls  mills  about  60  miles,  where  I  dispatched  90  of  my  men 
back,  to  render  assistance,  on  receiving  the  unfortunate  ac 
counts  of  Col.  Slingsbee's  misfortune;  but  it  was  too  late;  as 
the  rebels  had  taken  to  the  woods  and  got  off. 

I  had  information  of  the  rebel,  CoFn  Wade  with  450 
militia,  was,  then,  on  his  march,  to  attack  Col.  McXeal,  who 
had  assembled  TO  of  the  loyal  militia  of  Bladen,  and  then 
lay  on  the  side  of  Drowning  Creek.  I  instantly  dispatched, 
an  express,  to  know  his  situation,  and  offering  assistance  ;  in 
three  hours,  I  received  for  answer,  he  would  be  glad  to  see 
me,  and  my  party.  I  marched  directly,  and  by  day  light, 
arrived  with  155  men.  Our  pickets  was  fired  upon ;  and 
retreated  into  camp,  having  exchanged  several  shots  with 
those  of  the  Ilebels.  We  had  information  they  were  crossing 
a  bridge  on  Drowning  Creek,  about  three  miles  off,  when 
the  pickets  fired  on  them  ;  and  that  there  was  420  men 
crossed  that  bridge.  I  immediately  ordered  all  my  men  to 
arms,  and  counted  them  ;  which  in  number  was  225,  horse 
and  foot ;  I  then  marched  immediately  to  attack  them ; 
when  I  formed  my  little  party  I  left  great  vacancies  in  order 
to  appear  as  numerous  as  possible,  and  to  prevent  their  turn 
ing  niv  flanks.  We  attacked  them  at  11  o'clock  ;  and  en- 

O  v 

gaged  them  an  hour  and  a  half ;  on  my  ordering  a  charge ; 
they  retreated.  We  persued  them  7  miles  and  took  54 
prisoners ;  4  of  which  died  that  night.  On  our  return  we 
found  19  dead ;  and  the  next  day,  several  came  in  and  sur 
rendered,  all  of  whom  were  wounded,  and  we  had  reason  to 
suppose  that  several  died  in  the  swamps,  by  accounts,  we 
received  from  those  who  came  in  afterwards.  Our  loss  was 
only  5  men  wounded ;  one  of  which  died  ;  and  5  Horses 


[  82    ] 

killed  ;  besides  a  few  wounded.  We  took  250  horses  ;  most 
of  which  were  loaded  with  effects  they  had  plundered  from 
the  friends  of  Government ;  and  as  I  had  formerly  ordered 
that  whoever  found  concealed  goods,  of  any  kind  should  keep 
them  ;  I  also  now  ordered  that  every  man  should  keep  that 
he  had  taken  that  day,  after  mounting  and  equipping  those 
50  ;  who  were  not  mounted  in  the  action.  I  then  parolled 
the  prisoners,  except  30,  which  I  sent  to  Wilmington,  under 
a  guard  of  Col.  McNeal's  men.  Then,  with  my  party,  I 
marched  that  evening  to  Little  River,  16  miles  from  mcFalls 
mill ;  where  the  party  returned,  which  had  gone  to  Col'n 
Slingsby's  assistance.  The  day  following,  I  arrived  at  Coxe's 
Mill,  where  I  issued  the  following  advertisement ;  and  circu 
lated  it  through  the  country — 

r  "  ADVERTISEMENT. 

*—  This  is  to  let  all  persons  know,  that  do  not  make  ready 
and  repair  immediately  to  camp,  that  their  property  shall 
be  seized,  and  sold  at  public  sale  ;  and  if  they  are  taken,  and 
brought  into  camp  they  shall  be  sent  to  Wilmington,  as 
prisoners,  and  there,  remain,  as  such,  in  the  provost ;  and  be 
considered  as  Rebels ;  also,  if  any  rebel  is  willing  to  surren 
der  and  come  in  he  shall  reap  the  benefit  of  a  subject. 

DAVID  FANNING      / 

Camp  Coxe's  mill  \  CoVo  Coni'g  loyal  Militia      /-^ 

Gt/t  Sep  1781      I 

On  the  9th  of  Sept.  I  was  joined  by  Col'n  McDugald  of 
the  Loyal  Militia  of  Cumberland  County,  with  200  men ; 
and  Col.  Hector  McXiel,15  with  his  party  from  Bladen  of  70 
men ;  and  in  consequence  of  my  advertisement  I  had  also 
435,  who  came  in  ;  and  many  found  me  afterwards. 

I  had  previously  determined  •within  myself  to  take  the 
Rebel,  Governor  Burke  of  North  Carolina  and  I  had  a  con 
versation  with  Maj.  Craigg,  on  the  subject.  I  now  thought 
it,  a  favourable  opportunity,  as  I  found  myself  at  the  head  of 


950  men  of  my  own  Regiment ;  exclusive  of  McDugald  and 
MoNIel's  regiments.  I  acquainted  Major  Raines,  of  my 
resolution,  who  approved  of  it.  The  rebel  General  John 
Butler,  and  Col.  Robert  Maybin  of  the  Continental  line,  lay 
within  40  miles  of  our  encampment,  on  the  Cape  Fear  River. 
It  was  supposed  by  my  officers,  that  I  intended  to  attack 
them.  After  marching  1(5  miles  to  Rocky  River,  I  went  a 
little  distance,  out  of  my  road,  to  a  friends  house,  for  intelli 
gence,  of  the  situation  of  the  Rebels ;  during  which  time, 
the  guide  led  my  little  army  about  twro  miles  out  of  the  way, 
towards  General  Butler.  On  my  return,  I  was  under  the 
necessity  of  making  my  intentions  known  ;  and  immediately 
directed  my  march  to  Hillsboro ;  I  pushed  all  that  day  and 
the  following  night ;  At  7  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  12th 
we  entered  the  town  in  three  divisions,  and  received  several 
shots  from  different  houses  ; — however,  we  lost  none  and  suf 
fered  no  damage,  except  one  man  wounded.  We  killed, 
fifteen,  of  the  Rebels,  and  wounded  twenty ;  and  took  up 
wards  of  two  hundred  prisoners ;  amongst  them  was  the 
Governor,  his  Council,  and  part  of  the  Continental  Colonels, 
several  captains  and  subalterns,  and  seventy  one  continental 
soldiers  out  of  a  church.  We  proceeded  to  the  Goal,  and 
released  thirty  Loyalists,  and  British  soldiers  ;  one  of  which, 
was  to  have  been  hanged  on  that  day.  About  12  o'clock,  I 
left  Hillsboro ;  and  proceeded  Eighteen  miles  that  night 
towards  Coxe's  Mill ;  in  the  morning  I  persued  my  march 
about  Eight  miles  further,  to  Lindsey's  Mill  on  Cane  Creek  ; 
where  Gen'l  Butler  and  a  party  of  rebels  had  concealed 
themselves.  Col'n  McNeal,  who  had  the  advanced  guard, 
had  neglected  to  take  the  necessary  precautions  for  our 
safety,  and  by  information  of  Capt.  McLain  Cumberland 
county,  Little  River ;  and  as  soon  as  I  had  discovered  the  situa 
tion,  we  were  in,  and  having  so  great  a  number  of  prisoners, 
I  left  my  station,  and  pushed  for  the  advanced  guard ;  on 
my  coming  up  with  Col'n  McNeal,  I  inquired  the  reason  of 


his  neglect ;  and  before  lie  could  answer,  we  were  fired  upon 
by  the  rebels.  They  killed  Eight  men,  among  them  was 
Col'ii  McXeal,  who  received  three  balls  through  him,  and 
five  through  his  horse.  I  then  ordered  a  retreat  back  to 

o 

where  I  left  the  prisoners,  and  after  securing  them,  I  made 
the  necessary  preparations  to  attack  the  enemy  ;  and  after 
engaging  them  four  hours  they  retreated.  I  lost  twenty 
seven  men  killed,  and  sixty,  so  badly  wounded,  that  they 
could  not  be  moved;  besides  thirty  slightly,  but  so,  that  they 
could  keep  up  with  our  main  body.  At  the  conclusion  of 
this  action,  I  received  a  shot  in  my  left  arm,  which  broke 
the  bone  in  several  pieces  ;  my  loss  of  blood  was  so  great, 
that  I  was  taken  off  my  horse,  and  led  to  a  secret  place  in 
the  woods.  I  then  sent  Lieut.  Woleston,  to  my  little  army, 
for  Col'ii  Arch  McDugald,  and  Major  John  Rains  and  Lt 
Col'n  Arch  McKay,  to  take  command  ;  to  send  to  "Wil 
mington  for  assistance,  as  I  was  not  able  to  take  any  com 
mand,  I  also  desired  that  Major  Rains  should  return  as 
soon  as  he  could  leave  Col.  McDugald  ;  as  I  thought  he 
miii'ht  be  the  means  of  saving  me  from  the  hand  of  my  ene- 

"  Of 

mies.  These  gentlemen  conducted  themselves  in  such  a 
manner,  I  think  they  deserve  the  applause  of  every  loyal 
subject,  both  for  their  valour  and  good  conduct,  as  Col'n  May- 
bin  and  Gen'l  Butler  persued  them  all  the  way  until  they 
met  Major  Craigg  coming  to  their  assistance.  They  made 
their  march  good  for  160  miles  and  never  lost  one  prisoner, 
but  introduced  Thos.  Burk,  their  Governor,  and  his  regiment 
of  rebels,  to  Major  Craigg  ;  who  very  well  accepted  them  ;  and 
Major  Craigg  introduced  his  Excellency,  and  Regiment,  to 
the  Provost  Master.  I  am  informed  by  letters  from  Col.  Arch 
McDugal,  dated  Oth  Aug.  1789  that  no  provision  has  been 
made  for  him  yet.  Also,  Major  Rains,  the  2d  of  Oct'r  1789. 
But  I  am  in  hopes  when  the  Government  comes  to  be  informed, 
of  the  many  services  that  they  have  done,  they  will  consider 
them,  and  make  some  allowance  for  them.  I  am  personally 


I    85  ] 

acquainted  with  their  services.  Major  John  Rains,  was  the 
first  man,  that  took  up  arms  within  North  Carolina ;  and  the 
last  man  with  me,  and  took  an  active  part  in  command  in 
six  and  thirty  skirmishes  in  N.  C.  (also  Capt.  George  Rains.) 

At  the  departure  of  my  little  army,  I  was  left  with  three 
men  ;  and  in  four  days  17  more  came  to  my  assistance.  I 
made  enquiry  respecting  the  loss  of  the  Rebels,  in  the  late 
action  ;  and  found  that  the  inhabitants  had  buried  24,  and 
that  the  wounded  they  had  left  were  90,  besides  those  that 
went  off  and  that  my  party  had  taken  10  prisoners.  Of 
the  number  of  the  killed  was  Col'o  Guttrell.  and  Major 
Knowles,  who  were  inveterate  enemies  to  the  Loyalists. 

The  party  we  had  engaged  I  found  to  have  consisted  of 
four  hundred  Continentals  under  the  command  of  Col'o  May- 
bin  and  Gen'l  Butler.  In  twenty  four  days,  I  found  my 
self  able  to  set  up,  and  then  dispatched,  four  of  my  Cap 
tains  Hooker,  Rains,  Knight,  and  Lindly,  to  Wilmington 
for  a  supply  of  ammunition  ;  and  before  their  return,  I  had 
sent  out,  and  embodied  140  men,  during  which  time  I  heard 
of  a  quantity  of  leather,  which  was  prepared  for  the  use  of 
the  rebel  army,  and  was  ordered  for  Gen'l  Green's  quarters 
at  Camden.  I  went  to  the  place,  and  finding  the  leather 
agreeable  to  my  information,  T  took  enough  thereof  to  equip 
the  company  completely,  and  ordered  the  rest  to  be  de 
stroyed.  On  my  return  to  Brush  Creek,  near  where  I  had 
been  secreted  during  my  illness,  occasioned  by  my  wounds,  I 
sent  out  spies  for  discovery.  Two  of  them  returned,  in  less 
than  an  hour,  with  information  of  six  hundred  rebels,  who 
were  advancing  for  to  attack  me.  But  they  proved  no  more 
than  170.  Their  accounts  disheartened  a  number  of  my 
men.  From  my  being  in  so  weak  a  state,  they  apprehended 
I  would  not  be  able,  to  command  them.  However  they 
lifted  me,  on  my  horse,  and  I  formed  my  men  there  in  two 
ranks  and  showed  two  fronts,  as  they  appeared  both  in  my 
front  and  rear  :  the  fire  continued  for  near  an  hour.  I  lost 


[  36  ] 

three  men  killed,  and  three  b^dly  wounded.  The  rebels  had 
one  killed,  and  several  wounded.  Then  they  retreated  ;  and 
rallied  and  attacked  again,  after  retreating,  about  a  mile, 
which  was  so  unexpected,  that  I  concluded  they  had  been 
reinforced.  I  then  retreated ;  but  without  loss,  except  my 
baggage.  I,  then,  separated  my  men  into  small  parties, 
until  the  arrival  of  the  four  officers,  I  had  dispatched  for 
ammunition,  to  Wilmington,  who  brought  the  following 
letter  from  Maj'r  Craigg,  with  5000  catridges  ; 

WILMINGTON  IWi  Oct  1781 
"  DEAR  SIR  : 

Your  letter  gave  me  infinite  satisfaction  from  the  favour 
able  accounts,  it  contained  of  your  health,  and  the  proba 
bility  of  your  soon  being  restored  to  that  service,  in  which 
you  have  done  so  much  to  your  honour.  I  beg  you  to  ac 
cept  for  myself,  and  convey  to  those  of  your  officers  whom  I 
have  not  yet  seen,  my  warmest  thanks  for  their  gallantry  and 
good  behaviour.  I  enclose  you  the  commission  you  desired 
for  Major  Rains,  who  I  am  persuaded  will  endeavour  to 
answer  your  warm  recommendations.  I  have  been  unfortu 
nate  enough  to  lose,  the  list  of  medicines  you  sent  for ;  how 
ever  I  desired,  the  Surgeon,  to  send  you  such  as  he  thinks, 
most  likely  to  be  serviceable  to  you ;  though  from  his  not 
being  acquainted  with  your  case,  is  all  by  guess — I  am  much 
concerned  to  find  the  probabilities  of  so  many  of  your  peo 
ple  suffering  from  want  of  attendance  or  necessaries.  No 
thing  shall  be  wanting  in  my  power,  either  in  that  respect  or 
that  of  salt  for  their  relief.  I  am  not  at  liberty  to  explain 
myself  in  a  letter,  but  I  hope  I  shall  very  soon  have  it  in  my 
power  to  assist  you  with  greater  care  than  at  present.  The 
moment  I  returned  here,  I  was  informed  of  the  circumstances 
of  the  stallion  you  mention.  I  determined  it  in  your  favour, 
and  took  him  away  from  Mr.  Campbell,  or  rather  from  a 
gentleman  whom  he  had  sold  him  to.  He  has  been  with  my 


[37] 

horses  ever  since,  and  never  rode.     I  now  send  him  to  you 
by  Capt.  Liveley. 

The  long  northerly  winds,  has  prevented  any  arrivals  from 
Charleston,  so  that  we  are  totally  without  news. 
I  wish  I  had  got  Mr.  Burke's  papers. — 
I  am  with  much  regard, 

Your  most  ob't  faithful  servant 

J.  H.  CEAIGO 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  letter  I  received  of  Col 
onel  Edmond  Fanning16  of  the  King's  Americans" 

The  names  of  the  Officers  of  Cumberland  county  who  acted 
under  Colo.  McDugald,  as  they  was  commissioned  in  their 
different  companies  /  who  were  with  me,  at  the  taking  of 
Hillsboro  : 

Archibald  McDugald,  Colo. 
Archibald  McKay ;  Lieut.  Colo. 

The  names  of  the  Officers  of  Bladen  county  who  acted  under 
Lt.  Colo.  Hector,  McNeal. 

Hector  McNeal ;  Lt,  Colo. 
John  Watson  ;  Major  ; 

TJie  names  of  the  Gentlemen  Officers  ioho  came  as  Volunteers 
from  Wilmington,  for  recreation,  and  to  explore  the 
country,  and  was  at  the  taking  of  Hillsborough  with  me  ; 

Alexander  McCraw,  Capt.  of  Govr.  Martin's  Regt. 
Daniel  McDonald,  Lieut.  do.         do. 

Malcom  McKay,  Ensign  do.         do. 

John  McKenzie,  Capt. 
Hector  McNeal. 
Charles  Campbell. 
James  Dawson. 


[  38  ] 

Sometime  after  the  receipt  of  the  foregoing  letter  I  inter 
cepted  an  express  bound  for  Gen.  Greene's  Camp,  which  was 
at  that  time  near  the  lines  not  far  from  Charleston  ;  amongst 
which  was  Lord  Cornwallis's  capitulation,  which  I  have  since 
lost.  We  continued  in  small  parties  until  Major  Craigg 
evacuated  Wilmington,  when  one  day  I  took  a  man  with 
me  to  go  for  intelligence  and  to  provide  oats  for  the  party  I 
kept  with  me.  When  at  a  house  I  spied  a  party  of  thirty 
rebels,  coming  towards  said  house ;  where  I  was.  We  in 
stantly  mounted,  and  rode  off.  On  my  return  to  my  men,  I 
ordered,  sixteen  of  them,  to  mount ;  and  went  back  to  the 
house  we  had  left,  but  found  them  gone  off.  I  persued  them 
about  sixteen  miles ;  wThen  we  came  up,  with  them.  We 
killed  three  of  them  and  wounded  two  ;  who  I  took  prison 
ers.  I  had  no  loss  or  accident  on  our  part. 

I  had  now  certain  intelligence  of  Maj.  Craigg's  evacuating 
Wilmington  ;  and  that  the  rebels  in  consequence  of  it,  had 
separated  into  small  parties,  and  returning  home  ;  and  for 
the  space  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  days,  I  fell  in  with,  and  took 
more  or  less  of  them  every  day.  During  which  time  I  had 
information,  of  a  Capt.  Kennedy  and  his  party,  who  had 
taken  a  number  of  horses  and  a  quantity  of  household  furni 
ture.  I  followed  him  about  five  miles,  and  after  a  smart 
firing,  took  him  and  eight  of  his  party,  with  the  booty  they 
had  plundered.  He  gave  intelligence  that  a  Capt.  Lopp 
with  a  party  of  sixty  men,  who  had  been  discharged  by  Genl. 
Rutherford  were  on  their  way  up  the  country.  The  said 
Capt.  Kennedy  (Cannady)  all  the  time  of  our  attacking  Lopp 
stood  and  looked  on  ;  and  as  he  declared  that  he  would  not 
make  his  escape,  neither  would  he  let  any  of  his  men  inter 
fere,  if  we  drove  off  Capt.  Lopp.  I  left  him  in  a  house  with 
only  two  men,  to  guard  Eleven,  and  found  them  all  there. 
The  guard  informed  me  that  he  would  not  let  any  of  his 
party  make  their  escape.  He  proved  so  much  to  his  honour, 
that  I  gave  him  up  one  of  his  horses,  saddle,  and  bridle ;  and 


[  39  ] 

paroled  him  with  all  his  men.  I  had  at  this  time  but  thir 
teen  men,  with  me  at  a  House  near  the  road  where  they  were 
to  pass.  I  mounted  my  men,  and  placed  them  in  conceal 
ment  along  the  road.  On  their  coming  up,  I  ordered  them 
to  fire,  and  then  for  to  charge ;  which  we  did,  three  times, 
through  them ;  they  immediately  dispersed  through  the 
woods;  it  being  nearly  dark,  we  could  not  tell  what  injury 
they  suffered. 

On  the  10 th  of  Dec'r  Colo.  Isaacs  came  down  from  the 
mountains,  with  a  party  of  Three  Hundred  men  ;  and  formed 
his  camp  'at  Coxe's  Mill,  in  the  settlement  I  had  formerly 
ranged  in  ;  in  order  to  take  me  ;  where  he  continued  nearly 
three  months,  during  which  time  the  following  proclamation 
was  issued. 

"'  STATE  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 

By  the  Hon.  Alexander  Martin,  Esqr  Speaker  of  the  Senate, 

Captain  General,  Governor  and  Commander  in  Chief  in 

and  over  the  said  State. 

Whereas  divers  of  citizens  of  this  State,  have  been  deluded 
by  the  wicked  artificies  of  our  enemies,  &  have  revolted 
and  withdrawn  themselves  from  the  faith  and  allegiance, 
which  before  God,  they  plighted  to  owe  their  country,  and 
treacherously  have  taken  up  arms  against  the  same ;  being 
convinced  that  they  have  been  betrayed  by  false  hopes,  sup 
ported  by  deceit,  and  now  find  themselves  deserted  by  our 
feeble  and  despairing  enemy,  and  left  unprotected  to  the 
vengeance  of  the  State,  to  inflict  those  punishments  due  to 
their  crimes ;  and  in  tender  compassion  to  the  feelings  of 
humanity  to  spare  such  who  are  willing  to  return,  and  to 
stay  the  hand  of  execution,  in  the  unnecessary  effusion  of  the 
blood  of  citizens  who  may  be  reclaimed,  I  have  thought  fit 
to  issue  this  my  proclamation  of  pardon  to  such  of  the  above 
persons,  who  may  surrender  themselves  before  the  10th  day 
of  march  next,  on  this  express  condition,  that  they  imme- 
9 


[  -to  I 

diately  enlist  in  tlie  Continental  battalions ;  and  render  a 
personal  service  for  twelve  months  after  the  time  of  their 
rendezvous  at  head-quarters,  and  having  faithfully  performed 
the  same  for  the  said  term,  it  shall  be  deemed  as  having  ex 
piated  their  offences  and  be  entitled  to,  and  be  restored  to  the 
priviledges  of  citizens.  All  Officers  finding  men  of  this 
class,  guilty  of  murder,  robbery,  and  house  breaking,  to  be 
precluded,  from  the  above,  notwithstanding  ;  and  I  do  hereby 
require  the  Honourable  the  Judges  of  the  Superior  Courts  of 
law,  of  over  and  terminer,  and  general  jail  delivery,  and  all 
officers,  civil,  and  military,  within  the  State  to  take  notice  of 
this  my  proclamation ;  and  govern  themselves  accordingly. 
Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  of  arms  at  Halifax  this  25th 
of  December  1781,  and  in  the  sixth  year  of  our  Independence. 

ALEXANDER  MARTIN 
By  his  Excellency's  command 

JOHN  HAWKINS,  Dy.  Sec'y 

"  God  save  the  State." 


During  Col'o  Isaacs's  stay  at  Coxe's  Mill,  he  ravaged  the 
whole  settlement,  and  burnt  and  distroyed  a  number  of 
houses  belonging  to  the  friends  of  the  Government. — 
They  frequently  applied  to  me  privately  for  advice.  I  re 
commended  it  to  them  if  possible,  to  remain,  neutral ;  and 
make  their  peace  ;  as  it  was  entirely  out  of  my  power  for  to 
protect  or  relieve  them.  A  Capt.  Stinson  of  this  party 
took  one  of  my  men,  named,  David  Jackson,18  and  hung 
him  up  without  ceremony.  A  few  days  before  Colo.  Isaac's 
departure  from  Coxe's  Mills,  he  sent  out  notice  for  the 
friends  of  the  government  to  meet  him,  and  he  would  give 
them  protection  agreeable  to  proclamation ;  But  on  their 
assembling,  he  made  them  prisoners  of  war ;  and  marched 
them  under  a  strong  guard  to  Salisbury  Goal.  Not  many 
days  after  they  broke  out,  and  knocking  down  the  Sentinel, 


made  their  escape ;  except  one,  who  was  shot  in  the  at 
tempt. 

Two  Captains  in  each  county  were  appointed  by  Colo. 
Isaacs,  on  his  leaving  Coxe's  Mill,  to  keep  the  friends  of 
Government  down  ;  and  were  going  with  their  own  men, 
continually  through  the  country. 

During  all  this  time  I  was  in  the  woods  and  kept  moving 
with  a  small  party  as  occasion  required.  One  evening,  I 
had  assembled  thirty  men,  at  a  friends  house,  and  sent  out 
spies  ;  They  soon  returned  with  account  of  a  party  of  rebels 
within  four  miles  of  us,  distressing  and  plundering  our 
friends.  We  immediately  set  forward  to  render  our  assist 
ance,  and  got  within  a  half  a  mile  of  them  ;  I,  then,  sent  out 
to  get  information  how  they  were  situated,  and  by  break  of 
day  came  upon  them.  We  retook  seven  horses  which  they 
had  carried  off,  with  a  large  quantity  of  baggage.  We 
wounded  t\vo  of  them  mortally,  and  several  slightly ;  we 
came  oft'  without  injury,  except  two  horses  wounded.  The 
day  following,  we  persued  them,  to  Cumberland  county,  and 
on  my  way,  I  burnt  Capt.  Coxe's  house,  and  his  Father's. 
I  had  also  two  skirmishes  and  killed  two  of  the  rebel  party. 
On  my  return  to  Little  River,  I  heard  of  a  Capt.  Golson ; 
who  had  been  disstressing  the  Loyalists  ;  and  went  in  search 
of  him,  myself ;  but  unfortunately  I  did  not  meet  him  ;  but 
fell  in,  with  one  of  his  men.  who  had  been  very  assiduous,  in 
assisting  the  rebels.  I  killed  him.  I  mounted  a  man  of  my 
own  on  his  horse,  and  returned  back.  I  then  took  Capt. 
Cnrrie  and  the  man  of  my  own  before  mentioned,  and  went 
with  a  design  of  burning  Capt.  Golson's  house  ;  which  I  did  ; 
and  also  two  others.  In  my  way,  I  fell  in,  with  a  man,  who 
had  been  very  anxious  for  to  have  some  of  my  men  executed. 
I  sent  him  word  for  to  moderate  and  he  should  have  nothing 
to  fear,  but  if  he  persisted,  I  would  certainly  kill  him.  He 
took  no  notice  of  this ;  but  persisted,  for  several  months,  and 
on  observing  me  that  day,  he  attempted  to  escape ;  but  I 
shot  him. 


t   «   ] 

Two  days,  after,  Capt,  "Walker,  joined  me  winch  made, 
four  of  us,  and  hearing  that  one  Thompson,  a  Rebel  and 
Magistrate,  had  taken  up  a  horse  belonging  to  me,  I  went  to 
claim  him ;  He  gave  him  up  without  hesitation,  and  upon 
examining  what  arms  he  had,  he  owned  to  one  rifle,  which  I 
took  from  him ;  He  also  informed  me,  that  the  rebels  were 
willing  to  make  peace  with  me  on  my  own  terms,  and  would 
allow  me  any  limited  bounds  I  would  require  provided  I 
M'ould  not  be  troublesome  to  them.  I  therefore  concluded 
after  consulting  Capt.  Walker  and  Currie,  to  demand  the 
following  terms,  which  I  forwarded  by  a  prisoner,  I  had 
taken  ;  and  in  order  to  convince  them  that  my  intentions 
were  sincere,  I  released  him,  for  that  purpose,  though  he  had 
been  the  means  of  murdering  several. 

Terms  required  by  Colo.  David  Fanning  from  Govr. 
Burke,  forwarded  to  him  by  Lawyer  Williams,  and  Capt. 
Ramsay,  of  1st  battalion  of  North  Carolina  Continentals. 

1 .  That  every  friend  of  the  government  shall  be  allowed 
to  their  respective  homes  unmolested. 

2d.  That  they  shall  be  under  no  restrictions  of  doing,  or 
causing  to  be  done  any  thing  prejudicial  to  his  Majestys 
service. 

3d.  That  they  shall  not  be  under  any  obligation  to  act 
in  any  public  station,  or  ever  to  take  up  arms,  or  be  com 
pelled  to  do  any  thing  injurious  to  his  Majesty's  good  gov 
ernment. 

4.  That  shall  not  pay  or  caused  to  be  paid,  any  taxes  or 
money  so  levied  by  newT  laws  during  the  Continuance  of  the 
present  war,  to  support  new  army  by  their  industry.  If 
these  terms  are  granted,  I  request  that  they  may  be  imme 
diately  conveyed  to  me,  at  my  quarters  by  a  flag  of  truce, 
appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  by  such  Officers,  as  I  can 
rely  upon,  from  your  hands  and  seals. 

If  these  terms  are  not  granted  you  may  depend  my  sword 
being  continually  unsheathed ;  as  I  am  determined,  I  will  not 


leave  one  of  your  old  Offenders  alive,  that  has  injured  his 
Majesty's  Government,  and  friends,  who  would  have  been  of 
service  to  your  country  in  a  future  day  and  I  do  hereby 
recommend  it  to  you  to  govern  yourselves  accordingly. 
Jan'y  7th  1782  DAVID  FANNING  CoVo 

To  MR  JAMES  WILLIAMS  JOSEPH  CURRIE       )     ~      , 

and  CAPT  WM.  RAMSAY,  STEPHEN  WALKER  f     J  ^ 

to  be  forwarded  l>y  them  to  the  Commander  in  Chief  for  the 
time  being  on  the  Hillsbord*  district. 

I  received  the  following  answer  from  Lawyer  Williams 


SIR 

I  received  yours  by  Mr.  Riggin  at  the  Court  House,  on 
Sunday  last,  and  immediately  wrote  to  Gen'l  Butler  on  the 
subject  of  your  surrender.  His  answer  is,  that  he  cannot 
receive  you  himself  but  will  directly  write  to  the  Governor. 
As  soon  as  he  receives,  his  answer,  he  will  transmit  it,  to 
Maj.  Griffith,  who  will  send  it  to  Winsor  Pearce's  on  Deep 
River.  If  I  obtain  liberty,  I  will  bring  it  myself.  In  the 
mean  time  I  would  recommend  a  moderate  conduct  as  the 
best  step  to  bring  matters  to  an  accommodation.  The 
bearer,  Mr.  Riggin,  has  executed  the  trust  you  reposed  in 
him.  I  therefore,  hope,  you  will  restore  to  him  his  property. 
For  your  civility  to  me,  when  I  was  a  prisoner,  I  will  do  any 
thing  I  can  in  honour.  Concerning  your  surrender  Col'o 
Ray  and  Col'o  McDugald,  have  surrendered  and  gone  to 
Charlestown.  I  am  informed  by  Col'o  Thackston,  I  am  ex 
changed  with  a  number  of  other  prisoners,  at  Charlestown 
under  a  Cartel  which  is  renewed.  You  may  depend  as  soon 
as  I  get  the  Governor's  answer,  you  shall  know  it. 
I  am,  Sir,  Your  most  ob't  servt. 
COL'O  DAVID  FANNING  JAMES  WILLIAMS 


I  also  received  another  letter  from  Cap't  Ramsay  by 
another  conveyance 

Jan  8th  1782 
SIB 

I  saw  a  letter  to  Mr.  Williams  and  observed  what  you  say 
concerning  my  case.  As  to  breaking  my  parole,  that  I  am 
clear  of;  as  Major  Craigg  a  few  days  before  he  left  Wilming 
ton  sent  a  party  of  dragoons  to  where  we  were  paroled  at  the 
Sound  and  ordered  us  under  the  main  Guard ;  whence  I 
made  my  escape ;  which  I  am  certain  you  will  not  blame  me 
for ;  as  you  are  well  acquainted  with  my  honour ;  when  I 
was  taken  prisoner,  I  had  it  in  my  power  to  escape  many  a 
time;  but  as  long  as  I  was  treated  like  a  gentleman,  or  agree 
ably  to  the  rules  of  war,  I  would  rather  suffer  death,  than 
forfeit  my  honour,  I  observe  what  you  say,  concerning  your 
parole ;  but  the  kind  treatment  I  received  at  your  hands, 
you  may  rely  on  it,  any  thing,  Mr.  Williams,  or  myself  can 
do  for  you,  in  honour,  shall  not  be  wanting.  Your  letter  I 
understood  is  transmitted  to  the  Governor,  who  I  make  no 
doubt  will  comply  with  your  request.  For  my  part  I  wish 
for  nothing  else  but  peace. 

I  am  Sir  your  humble  servant 

MATTHEW  RAMSEY 

I  lay  neutral,  until  I  got  further  accounts  and  on  the  1 5th 
Jan  1782 ;  Messrs.  Williams,  Clark,  and  Burns,  were  kind 
enough  to  wait  on  me  at  Mr.  Winsor  Pearce's  in  respect  to 
my  former  proposals  which  I  had  requested  of  them,  with 
the  letter  as  follows. 

15th  Jan  1782 
SIK 

Agreeable  to  your  request  I  have  received  order  to  offer 
you  a  parole  on  the  terms  you  desired ;  thirty  miles  east  and 
west ;  fifteen  miles  north  and  south.  Hammond  Coxe's  mill 
to  be  the  center  of  your  bounds ;  should  you  be  inclined  to 


go  to  Cliarlestown  at  a  future  day,  let  me  know  it,  and  I  will 
endeavour  to  get  you  that  liberty,  when  I  see  the  Governor. 
You  mentioned  being  way  laid,  you  may  be  assured  that 
I  know  nothing  of  it.  Mr.  Williams  Mr.  Clark  and  John 
Burns,  are  the  gentlemen  that  are  kind  enough  to  wait  upon 
you  with  this  Flag,  and  a  blank  parole  for  you  to  sign ;  and 
they  will  give  you  a  certificate  for  your  security  against  any 
of  the  American  troops-  to  remain  as  prisoners  of  war,  in  the 
bounds  specified.  You  may  rely  on  it,  nothing  dishonour 
able  shall  be  done  on  my  part ;  and  I  have  the  greatest 
reason  to  believe  that  you  will  act  on  the  same  principles. 
No  inhabitants  of  this  county  shall  be  molested  either,  in 
person  or  property,  who  have  not  been  guilty  of  wilful  mur 
der,  or  plundering;  it  is  the  duty  of  every  honest  man  to 
bring  all  such  to  justice  in  order  to  restore  harmony  and 
peace  once  more  to  our  country. 

I  am  your  obedient  humble  servant 

MATTHEW  RAMSAY 
To  Col.  David  Fanning 
per  flag 

Also  the  following  letter  was  left  at  Mr.  Pearce's  by  the 
three  gentlemen  before  mentioned. 

TUESDAY  MORNING 
SIR 

Agreeable  to  Capt.  Ramsay's  letter  left  for  you,  we  came 
up  to  Mr.  Pearce's,  when  we  made  no  doubt  of  seeing  you. 
I  have  seen  his  instructions  to  parole  you,  and  you  may 
depend  no  trap  is  meant  for  you,  to  any  of  our  knowledge 
Ray  and  McDugald  were  received  in  the  same  manner,  and 
no  man  offered  to  molest  them.  Our  orders  were  to  have 
returned  last  night,  and  the  light  Horse  under  the  command 
of  Capt.  Ramsay  kept  back,  until  our  return  ;  Therefore  we 
cannot  possibly  stay  any  longer.  If  you  encline  to  accept 


the  terms  offered,  which  Capt.  Ramsay  cannot  alter,  you  will 
meet  us  at  Baalam  Thompson's  with  as  many  of  your  men  as 
you  please ;  as  can  be  received  according  to  the  terms  you 
propose  :  and  are  your  obt.  servts. 

f  JAMES  WILLIAMS. 
COL'O  DAVID  FANNING  <  A.  CLARK. 

(^  JNO.  BURNS. 

In  the  course  of  this  correspondence,  endeavouring  to  make 
peace,  I  had  reason  to  believe  they  did  not  intend  to  be  as 
good  as  their  words  ;  as  three  of  their  people  followed  Capt. 
Linley ;  and  cut  him  to  pieces  with  their  swords.  I  was  im 
mediately  informed  of  it,  and  kept  a  look  out  for  them. 
Five  days  after  their  return,  I  took  two  them  and  hung 
them,  by  way  of  retaliation,  both  on  the  limb  of  the  same 
tree;  the  third  made  his  escape.  After  this  Coin.  Alston, 
who  was  a  prisoner  of  war,  at  this  time,  came  to  me,  at  Genl. 
Butler's  request,  to  know  if  I  was  willing  to  come  to  any 
terms.  I  asked,  the  reason,  why  the  Governor  had  not 
answered  my  letter,  and  what  was  the  cause  of  their  be 
haviour  to  Capt.  Linly :  I,  then,  with  a  number  of  my  Offi 
cers,  set  down,  and  wrote  the  following  letter  to  General 
Butler. 

"  SIR,  On  friday  the  7th  of  Jany.  last  I  wrote  to  Mr.  Wil 
liams,  the  terms  I  was  willing  to  come  under ;  he  wrote  for 
answer  that  he  could  not  comply  with  my  terms,  until  he 
had  the  approbation  of  the  Governor.  On  Wednesday  the 
llth  inst.  a  flag  was  to  meet  me  at  Winsor  Pearce's ;  with  a 
letter.  But  on  its  approach,  it  was  waylaid  by  Capt.  Gol- 
ston  with  a  party  of  men  which  had  more  the  appearance  of 
treachery  than  a  wish  for  peace.  Had  not  the  gentleman 
(Mr.  Baalam  Thompson)  acted  as  honourable,  for  the  minute 
he  arrived  he  let  me  know  it,  and  declared  himself  innocent. 
This  gave  me  reason  to  think  he  would  act  with  honour ; 


still  on  tlie  15th  inst,  Messrs  Williams,  Clark,  and  Burns; 
the  three  gentlemen  that  were  kind  enough  to  wait  upon  me, 
with  a  blank  parole,  and  letter  from  Capt.  Ramsay — -who 
mentioned  in  his  letter  that  my  request  was  granted  by  the 
Governor ;  in  the  mean  time,  the  gentlemen  waiting  on  me 
at  the  place  appointed,  there  came  around  a  company  from 
the  Hawfield's,  commanded  by  Capt.  Scorely,  which  plainly 
and  evidently  appeared  to  me,  there  was  nothing  but  treach 
ery  meant.  On  Sunday  the  10th  of  feby  I  fell  in  the  rear  of 
Capt.  C.olestons  and  Capt.  Hinds,  and  following  their  trail, 
came  on  them  at  dark.  After  some  firing  that  night  I  rode 
off,  and  came  on  them  next  morning,  and  we  came  on  terms 
of  peace,  till  I  could  write  to  their  superior  officer,  for  which 
I  consulted  my  officers,  and  we  joined  hand  and  heart  to 
comply  with  the  terms  hereunder  written. 

"  We  the  Subscribers  do  acknowledge  ourselves  Subjects 
to  his  Britanic  Majesty,  as  you  are  well  assured  of  our  fidel 
ity,  zeal,  and  loyalty,  to  his  Majesty's  government.  As  it 
lias  been  daily  the  case  that  we  have  been  distroying,  one 
anothers  property  to  support  and  uphold  our  opinions,  and 
we  are  hereby  willing  to  come  to  a  session  of  arms,  not  under 
six  months,  nor  exceeding  twelve ;  conditions  underwritten. 

1.  Our  request  is  from  Cumberland  twenty  miles  N.  &  S ; 
and  thirty  miles  E.  &  W :  to  be  totally  clear  of  your  light 
Horse. 

2d.  request  is  for  every  man  that  has  been  in  actual  arms, 
in  a  permanent  manner,  in  order  to  establish  a  British  gov 
ernment,  (except  those  who  have  diserted  from  a  regular 
troop  that  has  voluntarily  listed  themselves,)  then  we  do  ob 
ligate  to  deliver  up  each  and  every  man  shall  have  a  right  to 
withdraw  themselves  in  said  district. 

3d.  If  any  of  our  men  should  go  out  of  said  district  to 
plunder,  or  distress,  or  murder  any  of  the  American  party, 
we  will,  by  information  made  to  me,  Maj'r  Rains,  or  any  of 
10 


the  Captains  return  their  names ;  if  the  request  is  granted, 
they  shall  immediately  be  apprehended  and  sent  by  any  offi 
cer  appointed  by  you  to  be  tried  by  your  own  laws. 

4th.  If  any  of  your  party  shall  be  catched  plundering, 
stealing  or  murdering,  or  going  private  paths,  with  arms  sig 
nifying  as  if  they  were  for  mischief,  these  are  to  be  left  to  our 
pleasure  to  deal  with  as  circumstances  agreeable  to  our  laws. 
All  public  roads  to  be  travelled  by  any  person,  or  copany 
unmolested,  if  he  behave  himself  as  becomes  an  honest  man, 
or  any  Army  or  company  or  wagons  keeping  the  public  roads. 

5.  Every  person  that  has  been  in  actual  arms  in  manner 
aforesaid,  in  order  to  support  or  establish  a  British  Govern 
ment,  shall  not  be  interupted  of  their  arms,  provision,  person 
or  property.     If  any  one  residing  within  the  said  district, 
who  are  subjects  to  the  States  should  want  provisions,  or  any 
other  article  from,  by  sending  to  either  of  the  officers  that  I 
shall   appoint  for  that  purpose,  or  use  we  will  send  a  suffi 
cient  guard  to  see,  them  safe  and  out  unmolested.     Quakers 
excepted  from  anything  whatever. 

6.  That  I  will  not,  in  the  mean  time  disturb  or  distress  any 
person,  or  persons  abiding  by  your  laws  in  said  district.    All 
back  plundering  shall  be  void  ;  as  it  is  impossible  to  replace 
or  restore  all  the  plunder  on  either  side. 

7.  Our  request  is  to  have  free  trade  with  any  port  with 
waggons,  or  horseback  without  arms ;  with  a  pass  from  any 
appointed  Officer  for  salt  or  any  other  necessaries  and  use. 
Except  the   two  Coxe's  mills  to  be  free  from   any  incum- 
brance  of  all  parties  belonging  to  the  Americans. 

8th.  Any  of  my  men  that  has  been  returned  a  Continental 
without  taking  the  bounty,  that  has  been  in  actual  service  as 
above  mentioned  shall  return  in  said  district. 

9th.  If  our  request  is  granted  as  above  written  I  request 
it  may  be  sent  to  me  by  8th  of  March  ;  as  I  may  forward  to 
my  further  determinations ;  if  I  cannot  have  any  request 
granted.  I  shall  exact  and  point  out  every  deplausible  meas- 


[49  ] 

nres  in  order  to  suppress  every  person  in  arms  against  his 
Britanic  majesty.     I  am  yonr  most  obedient  humble  serv't 
Given  under  my  hand  and19  arm  as  aforesaid 

DAVID  FANNING  Col  Com.  Loyal  Mi 
JOHN  RAINS,  Mafr 
WILLIAM  RAINS,  Cap't 
JOHN  CAYLE,           " 
WM.  PKICE, 
ABNER  SMALLY      " 
JACOB  MA  URIC  K  Lieut 

To  Gohn  Butler,  Gen'l  of  Hillsboro  District, 
Pr  favour  of  Col  Philip  Alston 

Copy  of  letter  of  Gen'l  Butler. 

MOUNT  PLEASANT  5th  March  1782 
DEAR  SIR 

Your  letter  of  26th  of  last  month  was  handed  to  me  last 
night.  I  have  observed  the  contents.  Had  you  proposed 
that  you  and  the  men  now  in  actual  service  with  you  would 
have  taken  a  parole  to  some  certain  bounds,  until  you  could 
have  been  sent  to  Charleston,  to  be  exchanged,  I  should  have 
entered  into  that  business.  But  your  propositions  are  many, 
and  some  of  them  uncustomary  in  like  cases.  I  conceive  it 
out  of  my  power — However  as  his  Excellency  Governor 
Burke  is  now  at  Halifax  I  will  send  him  your  letter  with  the 
proposals  to  him  by  express.  This  is  now  the  5th  day  of 
March ;  of  course,  it  must  be  several  days  after  the  8th  be 
fore  his  answer  can  come  to  hand;  in  the  mean  time  it  may 
be  as  well  to  postpone  the  desperate  measures,  you  have  in 
contemplation. 

I  am  your  obed  servt. 

JOHN  BUTLER.  B.  G.  for 

HillsVo  district 

P.  S.     If  you  would  not  choose  to  be  confined  in  bounds 
any  length  of  time,  it  might  be  contrived  so  that  you  might 


[  50   | 

be  sent  off  immediately  under  an  Escort  of  my  appointing  to 
General  Greene.  He  lias  promised  to  have  all  such  ex 
changed  which  I  send  to  his  quarters. 

JOHN  BUTLER  B.  G. 

About  the  7th  March  1782  Capt,  Walker  and  Currie,  of  the 
Loyal  Militia  fall  in,  with  a  party  of  Rebels,  and  came  to  an 
engagement,  and  fired  for  some  time,  'till  the  rebels  had  fired 
all  their  ammunition  ;  and  then,  wished  to  come  to  terms  of 
peace  between  each  party  ;  and  no  plundering,  killing  or 
murdering  should  be  committed  by  either  party  or  side ; 
which  was  concluded  upon  by  each  Colonel,  for  such  certain 
limited  bounds;  which  was  to  be  agreed  upon  by  each  Colo  ; 
and  if  they  could  not  agree,  each  party  was  to  be  neutral  un 
til  matters  was  made  known,  respecting  the  terms  which  they 
had  to  agree  upon.  Soon  after  my  men  came  to  me  and  in 
formed  what  they  had  done ;  we  received  the  rebel  Col.  Bal- 
four's  answer;  that  u  there  was20  resting  place  for  a  tory's  foot 
upon  the  Earth."  He  also  immediately  sent  out  his  party, 
and  on  the  10th,  I  saw  the  same  company  coming  to  a  cer 
tain  house  where  we  were  fiddling  and  dancing.  We  imme 
diately  prepared  ourselves  in  readiness  to  receive  them,  their 
number  being  27  and  our  number  only  seven  ;  We  immedi 
ately  mounted  our  horses,  and  went  some  little  distance  from 
the  house,  and  commenced  a  fire,  for  some  considerable  time; 
night  coming  on  they  retreated,  and  left  the  ground.  Some 
time  before,  while,  we  were  treating  with  each  other,  I  had 
ordered  and  collected  twenty-five  men  to  have  a  certain  dress 
made  which  was  linnen  frocks,  died  black,  with  red  cuffs,  red 
elbows,  and  red  shoulder  cape  also,  and  belted  with  scarlet, 
which  was  a  total  disguise  to  the  rebels,  which  the  red  was 
all  fringed  with  wrhite  fringe,  and  on  the  12th  of  March,  my 
men  being  all  properly  equipped,  assembled  together,  in  or 
der,  to  give  them  a  small  scourge,  which  we  set  out  for.  On 
Baltbur's  plantation,  when  we  came  upon  him,  he  endeavored 


to  make  his  escape ;  hut  we  soon  prevented  him,  fired  at 
him,  and  wounded  him.  The  first  ball  he  received  was 
through  one  of  his  arms,  and  ranged  through  his  body ;  the 
other  through  his  neck  ;  which  put  an  end  to  his  commiting 
any  more  ill  deeds. 

We  also  wounded  another  of  his  men.  We  then  proceeded 
to  their  Colonel's  (Collier,)  belonging  to  said  county  of  Ran 
dolph  ;  on  our  way  we  burnt  several  rebel  houses,  and  catched 
several  prisoners ;  the  night  coming  on  and  the  distance  to 
said  Collier's,  was  so  far,  that  it  was  late  before  we  got  there. 
He  made  his  escape,  having  received  three  balls  through  his 
shirt.  But  I  took  care  to  distroy  the  whole  of  his  plantation. 
I  then  persued  our  route,  and  came,  to  one  Capt.  John  Bry 
an's ;  another  rebel  officer.  I  told  him  if  he  would  come  out 
of  the  house,  I  would  give  him  parole  ;  which  he  refused,  say 
ing  that  he  had  taken  parole  from  Lord  Cornwallis,  swearing 
"  by  God  !  he  had  broken  that  and  that  he  would  also  break 
our  Tory  parole.  With  that  I  immediately  ordered  the  house 
to  be  set  on  fire,  which  was  instantly  done.  As  soon  as  he 
saw  the  flames  of  the  fire,  encreasing,  he  called  out  to  me,  and 
desired  me  to  spare  his  house,  for  his  wife's  and  children's 
sake,  and  he  would  walk  out  with  his  arms  in  his  hands.  I 
immediately  answered  him,  that  if  he  walked  out,  that  his  house 
should  be  saved,  for  his  wife  and  children.  When  he  came 
out,  he  said  "  Here,  damn,  you,  here  1  am."  With  that  he 
received  two  balls  through  his  body :  He  came  out  with  his 
gun  cocked,  and  sword  at  the  same  time. 

The  next  day  following  being  the  13th  march,  was  their 
election  day  to  appoint  Assembly  men,  and  was  to  meet  at 
Randolph  Court  House.  I  proceeded  on  in  order  to  see  the 
gentlemen  representatives  ;  On  their  getting  intelligence  of 
my  coining  they  immediately  scattered ;  I  prevented  their 
doing  any  thing  that  day. 

From  thence  I  proceeded  on.  to  one  Major  Dugin's  house, 
or  plantation,  and  I  distroyed  all  his  property  ;  and  all  the 


[  52  J 

rebel  officers  property  in  the  settlement  for  the  distance  of 
forty  miles. 

On  our  way  I  catched  a  commissary  from  Salisbury  who 
had  some  of  my  men  prisoners  and  almost  perished  them,  and 
wanted  to  hang  some  of  them.  I  carried  him  immediately 
to  a  certain  tree,  where  they  had  hung  one  of  my  men  by  the 
name  of  Jackson,  and  delivered  him  up  to  some  of  my  men, 
who  he  had  treated  ill  when  prisoners;  and  they  imme 
diately  hung  him.  After  hanging  15  minutes  they  cut 
him  down.  In  the  mean  time  there  was  about  300  rebels 
who  had  embodied  themselves  and  came  after  us ;  On  ac 
count  of  the  rainy  weather  our  guns  would  not  fire  on  either 
side.  We  were  obliged  to  retreat,  on  account  of  their  num 
bers  being  so  much  superior.  We  had  received  no  damage. 
About  the  8th  of  Apl,  a  certain  Capt  Williams  came  into  the 
settlement,  and  sent  an  old  woman  to  me,  to  inform  me,  that 
he  had  arrived  from  Govr.  Burke  that  instant ;  and  had  come 
in  order  to  see  me ;  which  by  her  description,  I  and  my  little 
party,  immediately  met  him,  and  he  informed  me,  that  he 
had  come  to  know  if  I  was  willing  to  come  upon  the  terms  I 
had  already  presented ;  and  requested  to  have  from  under 
my  own  hand  a  true  copy  of  them  ;  that  the  Governor  would 
do  every  thing  in  his  power  to  have  the  same  agreed  upon 
by  his  Council  and  Assembly ;  for  which  purpose  the  said 
Williams  was  sent  from  the  Governor,  He  also  told  me, 
that  the  Governor  had  said,  that  any  thing  I  should  do,  or 
cause  to  be  done,  from  the  character,  he  heard  from  the  Brit 
ish  at  Charlestown,  that  he  had  not  the  least  doubt,  they 
would  assent  to; — that  he  wished  to  make  peace  with  me  ; — 
saying  if  I  was  taken  prisoner,  and  killed ;  that  100  would 
certainly  lose  their  lives  for  it;  and  he  looked  upon  it  much 
better  to  come  to  terms  of  peace— that  he  heard  in  Charles- 
town,  I  was  killed ;  which  occasioned  him  to  run  away  from 
Charlestown ;  Upon  which  I  gave  him  a  copy  of  the  articles 
which  I  wished  to  comply  to.  With  which  he  ordered  the 


[  53  ] 

Light  Horse  •to  depart  to  their  different  stations,  till  they  re 
ceived  orders  from  the  Governor  and  Council. 

As  I  was  obliged  to  lay  neutral  until  I  received  their  an 
swer,  which  was  to  be  upon  terms  of  honour  on  both  sides,  as 
the  different  captains  commanding  the  light  horse,  wrote  to 
me  respecting  the  same  ;  as  appears  by  the  following  letters. 

"  SIR,  I  received  a  few  lines  this  day,  from  Cap't  Edward 
Williams,  informing  me,  that  you  and  he,  had  come  down 
yesterday,  and  signified  that,  you  and  he,  are  upon  terms  of 
compromising  matters,  on  condition,  that  I  will  stop  the 
County  light  horse  from  persuing  you — You  may  rest  as 
sured,  that  it  is  my  desire  to  be  at  peace  \vith  all  men — Cap't 
Riddle  and  his  company  are  at  the  Court  House.  I  have 
ordered  him  to  stand  there,  until  further  orders ;  and  will 
send  after  Cap't  Polston  and  desire  him  also ;  I  shall  set  off 
this  morning  to  the  Assembly,  and  if  it  is  in  my  power  to 
do,  or  cause  anything  to  be  done,  that  shall  cause  peace  and 
harmony  over  the  land,  you  may  rest  assured  I  will  do  my 
best ;  and  second  Cap't  AVilliams,  though  he  gave  me  no  ac 
count  of  your  proposals  ;  and  am 

with  respect  your  humble  serv't 

Ap'l  9th  1782  ROGER  GRIFFITH  Major 

To  CoVo  David  Fanning. 


CAMP  AT  Me  CAN  Ap  10  1782 
SIR, 

I  received  orders  from  Maj  Griffith  concerning  some  terms 
between  you  and  him  and  shall  withdraw  my  men  and  Cap't 
Golston's  as  we  are  both  together,  and  will  not  proceed  any 
further  after  apprehending  you  or  yours,  unless  you  come 
into  our  county  doing  mischief,  until  further  orders. 

From  your  humble  serv't 
To  CoTo  David  Fanning  JOSEPH  ROSUK 


[  54  ] 

Hoping  you  nor  yours  will  not  interupt  any  of  the  inhab 
itants  of  Chatham  until  matters  are  further  settled. 

WILLIAM  GOLSTON 


SIK,  I  received  your  letter  which  gives  me  great  satisfac 
tion  to  hear  that  you,  and  some  of  the  officers,  have  come 
upon  terms  of  peace ;  which  is  all  I  could  crave  ;  but  I 
should  be  glad  with  one  of  the  officers  in  company,  to  meet 
you  and  have  some  conversation  together,  and  be  upon 
honour.  If  we  can  come  upon  terms  agreeable  to  both,  I 
should  immediately  march  my  company  home.  I  shall  be  at 
Mr.  Mullins,  this  evening  at  two  o'clock ;  and  if  you  can 
meet  us  and  converse  across  the  river,  or  any  other  place 
you  will  choose. 

Ap'l  12th  1782  I  am,  Sir,  Your  ob't 

To  THOMAS  DOUGAN 

CoVo  David  Fanning  Captain  of  Light  II arse 


AP'L  17th  1782 
SIB 

I,  as  an  officer  in  behalf  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
have  turned  out,  in  order  to  suppress  any  persons  disturbing 
the  peace  of  said  State  ;  but  when  I  arrived  at  Deep  River, 
I  understood  that  you,  and  Cap'ts  Williams,  &  Dougan, 
were  about  to  make  a  treaty  of  peace  ;  which  I  approved 
of  very  well ;  and  withdrew  my  troop  towards  home.  But 
my  great  surprize,  on  my  way,  I  learned  that  your  men, 
were  robbing  the  peaceful  and  inoffensive  people  of  Cane 
Creek,  and  Hockey  River ;  which  wicked  conduct,  and  the 
great  desire,  I  had,  for  the  welfare  of  my  Country,  induced 
me  to  stay,  a  little  longer,  and  endeavour  to  stop  such  rob 
bery.  I  therefore  wish  to  inform  you,  that  I  did  not  pretend 


with  any  view  of  making  you  any  way  dishonourable,  but 
many  persons  not  owing  true  allegiance  to  the  laws  of  this 
State,  are  running  at  large  ;  and  call  yon  their  officer.  As 
I  hope  you  a  gentleman,  and  will  not  protect  any  vagabond, 
I  will  thank  you.  to  let  me  know  every  particular  of  your 
Treaty ;  what  bounds  you  have  ;  and  upon  the  honour  of  a 
gentleman,  I  will  not  interrupt  any  person  within  said 
bounds,  that  is  of  good  character  with  you.  I  would  recom 
mend,  that  you  order  Joseph  Currie,  and  Blair,  to  return  the 
widow  Dixon's  property,  which  they  robbed  her  of ;  and  I  will 
not  write  to  the  Governor  concerning  it,  as  you  want  peace. 
He  would  think  very  little  of  your  honour,  if  he  heard  that 
your  men  were  robbing  his  people,  after  you  had  petitioned 
to  him.  I  am,  Sir,  in  behalf  of  the  State, 

To  CoVo  David  Fanning.  EDWARD  GUIN,  Captain 

About  the  18th  of  April  Captain  Williams,  came  to  me, 
again,  at  Fork  Creek  and  informed  me  that  the  original  ar 
ticles  of  treaty  had  been  laid  before  the  Governor,  and  As 
sembly  ;  and  they  were  upon  a  conclusion  of  granting  me 
the  terms  I  wanted  ;  but  were  prevented  by  a  Colonel,  who 
came  from  over  the  mountains  and  was  one  of  the  Assemblv, 
who  did  every  thing  against  it.  Their  objections  were  ;  the 
articles  respecting  the  Continental  soldiers  taken  up,  and  they 
could  not  allow  any  passports  for  any  of  the  friends  of  the 
government  to  have  any  correspondence  or  connections  with 
the  British.  Every  other  article  they  were  willing  to  grant. 
Their  Assembly  continued  on  the  business  for  three  days ;  as 
Mr  Williams  informed  me.  My  answer  was  that  u  I  would 
forfeit  my  life,  before  I  would  withdraw  any  one  of  the  arti 
cles,  that  I  had  presented,  as  I  wished  to  hold  the  same  con 
nection  with  the  British,  as  formerly  ;  I  likewise  told  him, 
that  I  had  understood,  that  they  had  picked  out  twenty  four 
of  their  best  horses,  and  men,  from  Virginia  in  order  to  per- 
sue  me,  and  my  answer  to  Mr.  Williams  was  "  they  might  do 
11 


[  50  ] 

their  best,  and  be  damned"  as  I  was  fully  determined  to  still 
support  my  integrity,  and  to  exert  myself  in  behalf  of  the 
King  and  country  more  severer  than  ever  I  did."  With  this 
Mr.  Williams  departed. 

I,  then  set  out  for  Chatham,  when  I  learned  that  a  wed 
ding  was  to  be  that  day.  On  my  way  I  took  one  prisoner, 
before  I  came  to  the  house.  There,  being  but  five  of  us,  we 
immediately  surrounded  the  house  in  full  charge.  I  ordered 
them,  immediately  out  of  the  House  ;  three  of  my  men  went 
into  the  house  and  drove  them  all  out  one  by  one  ;  I  caused 
them  all  to  stand  in  a  row  to  examine  them,  to  see  if  I  knew 
any  of  them  that  was  bad  men.  I  found  one,  by  the  name 
of  William  Doucly,  concealed  up  stairs.  One  of  my  men 
fired  at  him  ;  as  he  was  running  from  one  house  to  the 
other ;  he  received  the  ball  in  his  shoulder.  I  then  having 
my  pistols  in  my  hand,  discharged  them  both  at  his  breast, 
with  which  he  fell,  and  that  night  expired.  I  then  paroled 
the  rest,  on  the  25th. 

I  concluded  within  myself,  that  it  was  better  for  me  to 
try  and  settle  myself,  being  weary  of  the  disagreeable  mode 
of  living  I  had  borne  with  for  some  considerable  time.  For 
the  many  kindness  and  the  civility  of  a  gentleman  who  lived 
in  the  settlement  of  Deep  River,  I  was  induced  to  pay  my 
addresses  to  his  daughter,  a  young  lady  of  sixteen  years  of 
age.  The  day  of  Marriage  being  appointed  ; — on  making  it 
known  to  my  people,  Cap't  William  Hooker,  and  Captain 
William  Carr,  agreed  to  be  married  with  me.  They  both 
left  me  to  make  themselves,  and  their  intended  wives  ready. 
The  day  before,  we  were  to  be  coupled,  the  Rebels,  before 
mentioned,  with  those  good  horses,  attacked  us  (Cap't 
Hooker's  horse  being  tied  so  fast  he  could  not  get  him 
loose,)  they  caught  him  and  murdered  him  on  the  spot.  My 
self  and  Cap't  Carr,  were  married  and  kept  two  days  merri 
ment.  The  Rebels  thought  they  were  sure  of  me  then  ; 
however  I  took  my  wife  and  concealed  her,  in  the  woods  with 


[  57] 

Cap't  Carr's  ;  and  caused  an  oration  to  be  put  out,  that  I  was 
gone  to  Charlestown.  In  order  to  be  convinced,  the  Rebels 
sent  a  man  in,  as  a  spy,  with  two  letters  from  Gen'l  Leslie 
with  instructions  for  rne  to  enlist  men  for  the  service  which 
I  knew  was  forged,  in  order  to  betray  me  and  from  the  per 
son  or  Commanding  Officer  of  the  Rebel  light  horse.  The 
following  is  one  of  which  I  gave  Gen'l  Leslie,  that  had  his 
name  singed  to  it. 

CHARLESTOWN  20th  Jan.  1782 
DEAR  COLONEL, 

Altho  I  have  not  he  happiness  of  being  acquainted  with 
}rou,  yet  I  can  applaud  you  very  much,  for  your  spirited  con 
duct  and  activity.  The  only  objection  I  have  to  your  con 
duct,  is  your  being  too  strenuous  with  those  who  have  been 
subjects  to  his  Majesty,  whom  the  Rebels  have  overcome  and 
forced  them  to  comply  with  their  laws.  If  you  would  let 
them  alone,  the  severity  of  the  Rebels  would  cause  them  to 
return  to  their  allegiance  again.  But  Sir  since  you  have 
made  so  brave  a  stand  already,  pray  stand  steadfast  to  the 
end,  and  we  shall  be  well  rewarded  at  the  last.  Try  to  spirit 
up  your  men,  and  enlist,  if  possible,  three  hundred  men  this 
spring,  ready  to  join  three  hundred  more  ;  which  shall  be 
put  under  your  command  ;  and  as  many  more  as  you  can 
get,  and  you  be  Brigadier  General  of  them.  We  shall,  I 
hope  in  the  month  of  May  land  1.300  troops  in  North  Caro 
lina,  300  of  your  corps,  1600  in  the  whole,  to  act  upon  the 
defensive,  until  you  are  reinforced. 

Keep  good  discipline  among  your  troops,  and  keep  out 
fellows,  who  will  do  nothing  but  plunder.  They  are  but 
false  dependence,  and  will  not  fight,  but  only  corrupt  good 
men.  Every  man  you  inlist  for  12  months,  shall  receive  ten 
guineas  ;  and  a  full  suit  of  clothes  ;  as  soon  as  we  land  our 
troops,  and  they  appear  under  your  command  ready  for  ac 
tion.  I  can  assure  you,  tis  vour  fame  and  worth v  actions 


[  58] 

has,  through  and  by  Maj'r  Craigg  given,  reached  his  Majes 
ty's  ears,  and  I  expect  perhaps  by  the  next  packet  boat  you 
will  get  a  genteel  present  from  our  gracious  Sovereign.  So 
hoping  that  you  will  be  in  the  way  of  your  duty,  I  will  take 
leave  of  you,  without  mentioning  your  name,  or  subscribing 
mine,  lest  this  might  miscarry — the  man  who  is  entrusted 
with  the  care  of  this,  dares  not  at  present  be  seen  in  it ;  but 
a  friend  and  send  it  to  the  man  as  is  Sir  vours 


To  CoVn  Fanning  in  No  Ca 

A  letter  from  the  traitor  who  brought  these  two  letters 
from  Gen1!  Leslie. 

DEAR  SIR 

I  would  come  to  see  you  myself,  but  am  afraid  of  the  rebel 
light  horse.  I  have  a  great  many  things  to  acquaint  you 
with  and  a  good  deal  of  good  news,  but  dare  not  write  for 
fear  of  miscarriage.  If  you  have  any  desire  of  seeing  me 
you  must  come  soon  away,  instantly.  Don't  let  the  bearer 
know  the  contents  of  the  letters — The  fewer  trusted  the 
better.  In  the  mean  time 

I  am  your  friend  and  serv't 

Ap'l  VMh  1782  JOSEPH  WILSON 

To  CoFn  Fanning 


My  answer  was  in  Maj'r  Rains'  name  as  follows  ; 
SIR, 

I  am  very  sorry  to  think  that  there  is  so  many  damned 
foolish  Rebels  in  the  world,  as  to  think  Cql'o  Fanning  would 
be  ever  deceived  by  such  damned  infernal  writings,  as  I  have 
received  from  you.  Col'o  Fanning  is  gone  to  Charleston, 
and  is  not  to  return  here  'till  he  comes  with  forces  sufficient 
to  defend  this  part  of  the  country.  I  would  have  you  to  dis- 


[  59  ] 

band  ;  and  be  gone  immediately ;  for  if  I  ever  hear  of  any 
one  of  your  people  coming  with  any  thing  of  the  sort,  I  will 
come  and  kill  them  myself.  I  am  in  behalf  of  his  Majesty's 
armies  JOHN  RAINS 

Major  of  the  Loyal  Militia. 
To  Jos.  Wilson. 


On  the  1st  of  May  1782  I  heard  of  a  wagon  being  in  the 
road,  I  imagined  she  was  going  down  to  market,  as  I  heard 
of  a  number  of  wagons  which  was  to  proceed  down  with 
liquor  to  the  market,  On  the  2d  I  mounted  and  persued  the 
wagon ;  which  I  heard  of  the  day  before ;  as  I  was  about 
setting  out  for  Charleston  I  concluded  to  have  a  frolic  with 

o 

my  old  friends,  before  we  parted.  After  riding  about  ten 
miles,  I  overtook  the  said  wagon,  which  belonged  to  a  cer 
tain  man  who  had  been  taken  prisoner  and  paroled  by  the 
British ;  and  had  broken  his  parole.  In  the  mean  time,  I 
was  examining  his  papers  I  set  a  centinel  over  him.  He 
knowing  himself  guilty,  expected  nothing  but  death.  He 
took  the  opportunity,  and  sprung  upon  my  riding  mare, 
and  went  off  with  my  saddle,  holsters,  pistols,  and  all  my 
papers  of  any  consequence  to  me.  We  fired  two  guns  at 
him ;  he  received  two  balls  through  his  body  but  it  did  not 

o  */ 

prevent  him  from  sitting  the  saddle ;  and  make  his  escape. 
I  took  the  other  man,  and  caused  him  to  take  me  to  the 
man's  plantation  ;  when  I  took  his  wife,  and  three  negro 
boys,  and  eight  head  of  horses.  I  kept  his  wife  for  three 
days  in  the  woods  ;  and  sent  the  man  to  see,  if  he  would  de 
liver  up  my  mare,  and  property,  containing  my  papers ;  for 
which  he  wrote  me  the  following  insolent  letter. 

SIR,  Col'o  Fanning,  I  hope  that  you  do  not  blame  me  for 
what  I  did.  Hoping  you  will  have  mercy  on  me,  as  I  am 
wounded,  and  let  my  wife  come  to  me.  Your  mare  shall  be 


[  60  ] 

returned  to  you  without  fail.  Your  mare  I  don't  crave,  and 
I  hope  you  dont  covet  mine.  I  beg  that  you  will  have  pity 
on  my  wife  and  children.  The  negroes  and  horses  I  am 
willing  you  shall  keep  until  you  get  your  mare  I  have  sent 
to  a  Doctor.  But  the  mare  will  be  back  to  night.  Xo 

o 

more,  but  you  may  depend  on  my  word 

ANDREW  HUNTER. 

I  also  received  the  following  letter  from  Edw'd  Williams, 
on  the  subject  of  the  Mare. 

SIR,  These  few  lines  comes,  to  let  you  know  that  I  have 
this  day  seen  Mr.  Hunter ;  he  is  badly  wounded  and  desires 
you  would  let  his  wife  come  to  him  immediately :  As  to  the 
rest  of  his  property,  you  are  welcome  to  keep,  until  such 
time's  you  get  your  mare  returned,  which  will  be  as  soon  as 
possible,  as  she  has  gone  at  this  time  after  the  Doctor.  But 
she  shall  be  returned  to  you,  with  all  speed,  as  soon  as  she 
returns.  Mr.  Hunter  also  is  very  ill. 

I  am  your  ob't  humble  servant 
CoVo  David  Fanning  EDWARD  WILLIAMS 

On  the  7th  of  May,  finding  I  could  see  no  opportunity  of 
getting  my  mare,  notwithstanding  she  was  one  of  my  princi 
pal  creatures,  and  a  mare  I  set  great  store  by,  and  gave  One 
Hundred  and  ten  guineas  for  her.  I  was  obliged  to  let  loose 
all  his  horses,  except  one,  as  they  was  of  no  account  to  me, 
in  the  situation  I  was  in ;  the  negroes  I  kept ;  I  then  pro 
ceeded  to  a  Major  Garner's  truce  land  in  Pedee  in  South 
Carolina,  where  I  had  made  a  truce  with  the  Rebels,  some 
time  before;  and  I  continued  thereuntil  June,  when  I  left  my 
wife,  horses,  and  negroes ;  as  I  was  entirely  a  stranger  to  the 
situation  of  the  country  and  roads,  I  was  obliged  to  procure 
a  pilot  to  proceed  to  Charlestown  ;  I  could  not  get  one  for 
less  than  20  guineas.  After  my  departure  I  fell  in  with  the 
rebel  dragoons  commanded  by  Colo.  Bailie,  from  Virginia. 


[61  ] 

I  was  with  them  for  about  an  hour  ;  and  informed  them  that 
we  were  some  of  the  rebel  party  then  on  our  way  to  General 
Marion's  head  quarters.  They  never  discovered  otherwise ; 
it  being  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening.  *We  fell  into  the  rear, 
and  went  into  the  woods  and  struck  our  camp,  and  promised 
them  we  would  see  them  next  morning.  However  we  pro 
ceeded  on  that  night,  and  arrived  at  Herald's  point  on  the 
17th  of  June,  and  I  immediately  procured  a  passage  to 
Charlestown,  when  I  immediately  applied  for  a  flag ;  to  send 
after  Mrs.  Fanning  and  property.  The  flag  had  left  Charles- 
town  two  days,  when  she  came  in,  as  Maj.  Gainey,  had  ap 
plied  to  General  Marion,  for  a  pass  for  her,  to  proceed  to 
Charlestown ;  He  would  not  let  her  have  any  of  our  prop 
erty,  not  even  a  negro  to  wait  on  her. 

Soon  after  the  Loyalists,  that  had  got  to  Charlestown  from 
different  parts  of  the  world  hearing  that  the  Southern  Colo 
nies  were  to  be  evacuated  by  the  British  forces,  called  a 
meeting  to  point  out  some  measures  to  try  to  hold  some  foot 
hold  in  the  country,  until  we  had  got  some  part  payment  for 
our  property  which  we  were  obliged  to  leave  if  we  ever  left 
the  country.  Hand  bills  were  printed  and  stuck  up  through 
out  the  towrn  for  the  Loyalists  to  choose  their  representatives 
to  represent  our  situation  and  the  desire  we  had  to  support 
ourselves  and  property.  It  was  proposed  that  25  Gentlemen 
should  be  choosen  a  committee  for  that  purpose.  The  day 
was  appointed  to  take  the  vote.  I  was  choosen  amongst 
others  ;  and  drew  up  a  petition  and  sent  to  Sir  Guy  Carleton 
Commander  in  Chief;21  praying  the  liberty  of  keeping  the 
town  and  artillery,  as  they  then  stood  on  the  works  ;  and 
despatched  two  gentlemen  oif  with  our  petition  ;  Our  request 
was  not  granted.  I  have  hereunto  set  forth  the  names  of 
the  gentlemen  representatives ; 

Col'o  Ballingall,22  Jas  Johnston  Esq, 

Robert  Williams  Esq,23  Lt  Col'o  Dupont, 


[  62  ] 

Col'o  Robt  Wm  Powell,  Col'o  Gray, 

John  Gailliard  Esq,24  Col  Cassels, 

John  Rose  Col  Pearson, 

Maj  Win.  Greenwood,"  Col  Philips, 

Maj  Gabriel  Capers,28  Col'o  Hamilton, 

Lt  Col'o  Thos  Inglis,  Wm  Carson,29 

John  Hopton  Esq,27  Dr  Wm  Charles  Wells, 

Robt  Johnston,  Esq,  Col.  Thomas  Edgehill, 

John  Champniss, 

Andrew  Millar  Esq,28  Col  Sam'l  Bryan, 

Col'o  David  Fanning,  Doct.  Baron. 

I  continued  in  Charlestown  until  the  5th  of  Sept,  and  my 
horses  having  got  recruited,  and  one  of  my  negroes  having 
made  his  way  good  through  the  country,  came  down  to  me  ; 
I  then  set  out  for  the  country  again,  on  account  of  my  mis 
fortune  of  losing  my  Mare,  which  was  of  great  value  to  me. 
I  went  up  to  the  settlement  again,  to  the  man  I  sent  to 
Hunter  before  ;  and,  he  informed  me,  that  Plunter  refused 
five  negroes  for  the  mare,  and  would  not  return  her.  He 
also,  went  to  where,  I  left  one  of  the  negroes  and  took  him 
and  sent  him  over  the  mountains  to  keep  him  out  of  my 
way.  I  continued  in  the  settlement  until  the  22d  of  the 
month,  trying  to  get  her  but  was  disappointed  in  my  hopes. 
Knowing  that  Charlestown  was  to  be  evacuated,  I  was 
obliged  to  return  ;  and  as  I  wras  on  my  wray,  I  understood 
my  mare  wras  at  a  certain  place,  about  125  miles  from 
Charlestown  ;  being  about  half  the  distance  from  where,  I 
then  was,  toward  Charlestown.  I  instantly  persued,  on  my 
journey  to  the  place,  I  heard  she  was  ;  and  my  riding  horse 
was  so  particularly  kno\vn,  I  sent  a  man  up  to  the  house  and 
he  was  known ;  they  directed  us,  the  wrong  way,  and  imme 
diately  sent  word  to  where  my  mare  was  :  I  found  out,  we 
was  wrong ;  and  took  through  the  woods,  and  to  a  house 
within  a  half  a  mile,  where  they  had  word  of  my  coining 


[   63   ] 

and  was  making  ready  to  goxto  their  assistance.  On  seeing 
us  come  up,  lie  immediately  left  his  horse,  and  was  running 
off  through  a  field ;  lie  turned  round  and  presented  his  piece 
and  snapped;  but  she  missed  fire  ;  With  this,  I  ordered  one 
of  my  men,  to  fire  at  him,  who  shot  him  through  the  body, 
and  dispatched  his  presence  from  this  world.  The  other  two 
men  that  was  at  the  house,  did  not  run  ;  and  informed  me 
that  they  had  received  word  of  my  coming  a  half  an  hour 
before  I  arrived  ;  and  also  that  there  were  men  lying  in  am 
bush  ready  to  attack  me.  With  this,  as  the  man  who  had 
my  mare  had  gone  off  with  her,  and  having  only  two  men 
and  my  negro  that  set  out  with  me  from  Charlestown,  also 
two  little  negroes  that  I  had  for  my  mare,  I  thought  it  was 
my  best  way  to  proceed  to  Charlestown ;  and  on  the  28th 
Sept.  I  arrived  at  Charlestown,  where  the  shipping  was 
ready  for  me  to  embark  for  St.  Augustine. 


EAST  FLORIDA 

We  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed  do  hereby  certify, 
that  Col'o  David  Fanning,  late  of  the  Province  of  No.  Ca., 
acted  in  the  station  of  Col'o  of  Militia  of  that  Province,  and 
was  of  the  greatest  service  to  his  Majesty,  in  suppressing  the 
rebels  during  the  late  rebellion  in  North  America ;  that  he 
is  worthy  of  every  loyal  subject  ;  both  for  his  valour,  and 
good  conduct ; — that  after  he  with  his  men  took  the  town  of 
Hillsborough,  dispersed  the  rebel  council,  and  took  a  great 
number  of  prisoners,  was  on  that  day  wounded  in  the  left 
arm — that  finding  the  town  of  Wilmington  evacuated  by  the 
British  troops,  and  his  wound  not  yet  well,  he  for  the  safety 
of  his  people  divided  them,  into  small  parties,  and  continued 
a  long  time  in  the  back  woods— that  after  many  skirmishes 
in  No.  Ca.  in  the  month  of  June  1782  he  with  the  utmost 
difficulty  made  his  way  through  many  interruptions  of  the 
enemy,  to  the  province  of  South  Carolina  ;  where  his  Majes- 
12 


ty's  troops  then  lay ;  and  that  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the 
province,  where  he  lived  and  his  property,  which  we  are 
informed  was  considerable ;  and,  that,  he  is  now  without  the 
means  of  subsistence,  having  lost  his  all,  for  and  on  account  of 
his  services  and  attachment  to  his  Majesty's  person  and  gov- 

ernment-  JOHN  HAMILTON, 

St.  Augustine  Lt  CoPo  Going  R.  N.  C.  Regt. 

20th  Sept  1783  JOHN  LEGETT,  Capt 

R.  N.  C.  Regt 
ALX.  CAMPBELL,  Capt 

8.  C.  Regt. 

GEO.  DAWKINS  Capt.  S.  C.  Regt. 
DANIEL  MCNEIL  Capt  R 

N.  C  Regt 
MOSES  WHITLEY  Lt.  S.  C  Regt. 


Scheduel  of  the  property  of  Col'o  David  Fanning  late  resident 
of  the  province  of  No.  Ca.  but  now  of  the  province  of  East 
Florida,  lost  to  him  on  account  of  his  Zeal  and  Attachment 
to  the  British  Government  and  never  received  any  part  or 
parcel  thereof  or  any  restoration  of  the  same,  viz ; 

550  acres  of  Land  in  Amelia  County  in  the  Pro 
vince  of  Virginia  with  a  dwelling  House   and 
other   necessary   buildings,   a  large    apple    and       £.    S. 
Peach  Orchard,  and  large  enclosed  improvements     687.10 

550  acres  of  land  near  said  plantation  heir  to  the 
estate  of  my  father  and  some  improvement  with  a 
dwelling  House  -  412.00 

3  Saddle  Horses  41.00 

12  plantation  Horses,  three  unbroke  96.00 

2  negro  Slaves  -     100. 

Debts,  notes,  bonds  &c   -  289. 

£1625.10 


[  CO  ] 

Personally  appeared  before  me,  one  of  his  Majesty's  Jus 
tices  of  the  Peace  St  Augustine  Province  of  East  Florida, 
Lieutenant  Charles  Roberson ;  Niell  Mclnnis ;  and  Philip 
Wisunpunt ;  Refugees,  of  said  East  Florida ;  who  being 
called  upon  by  the  within  mentioned  Col'o  David  Fanning, 
to  value  the  within  mentioned  property,  who  being  duly 
sworne ;  and  maketh  oath  upon  the  Holy  Evangelists  of 
Almighty  God;  that  "the  within  mentioned  property,  are 
well  worth  the  sums  affixed  to  each  article,  as  near  the  value 
as  possible,  if  the  same  was  to  be  sold,  to  their  own  knowl 
edge  and  the  best  information  they  could  get. 

CHAKLES  ROBERSON 

Sworne  at  St.  Augustine  NEIL  MC!NNIS 

this  25  Nov.  1783  before  me  PHILIP  WHISUNPTJNT 

JOHN  MILLS.  J.  P. 

I  took  my  passage  and  landed  in  New  Brunswick  on  23d 
Sept  1784,  and  went  to  Halifax  to  his  Excellency,  the  Gov 
ernor  Carlton  to  know  how  I  should  get  land,  but  he  had  not 
arrived,  so  returned  on  the  7th  Nov'r  and  in  August  I  re 
ceived  the  following  letter  from  CoFo  John  Hamilton  in 
answer  to  mine  in  regard  to  my  claim. 

DEAR  SIR, 

I  received  yours  of  the  9th  Feb  1785  a  few  days  ago  and 
notice  the  contents.  I  am  sorry  to  inform  you  that  your 
claims  are  not  yet  given  in,  but  I  expect  the  office  for  re 
ceiving  Claims  will  be  opened  again  by  act  of  Parliament 
this  session ;  when  you  may  depend  proper  care  shall  be 
taken  of  yours.  I  am  sorry  to  hear  of  your  losses.  I  hope 
you  are  now  agreeably  settled,  and  making  something  for 
your  family.  I  think  if  you  can  leave  your  business  in 
proper  hands,  a  trip  to  this  country  would  be  of  service  to 
you ;  tho'  I  don't  think  you  would  get  half  pay.  The  Gov 
ernment  would  settle  an  annuity  on  you  for  life ;  which  can 
not  be  done  without  your  coming  here. 

If  you  come  you  may  depend  on  all  my  interest  in  your 


[  66  ] 

favour,  and  I  cannot  help  thinking  it  worth  your  while  to 
come  home.  I  am  dear  Sir  your 

London  humble  servt 

May  10th  1785  JOHN  HAMILTON. 

In  a  short  time  after  I  heard  that  there  was  another  act  of 
Parliament  passed  to  receive  Claims  for  losses  and  services, 
also  that  the  Commissioners  had  arrived  at  Halifax.  On  the 
20th  March,  I  set  out  for  Halifax,  and  presented  a  copy  of 
my  claim,  as  follows ; 

To  the  Honourable  Commissioners  appointed  by  act  of 
Parliament,  further  to  enquire  into  the  losses  and  services  of 
the  American  Loyalists. 

The  Memorial  of  David  Fanning,  late  Col'o  of  tho  North 
Carolina  Militia,  humbly  sheweth ;  That  your  Memorialist  is 
a  Loyalist  from  North  Carolina ;  who  uniformly  and  re 
ligiously  adhered  to  his  duty  and  loyalty  to  the  best  of  Sove 
reigns  ;  for  which  he  suffered  persecution,  and  many  other 
inconveniences — that  your  Memorialise,  by  a  warrant  from 
Major  Craigg  of  the  82d  Reg't  then  commanding  at  Wil 
mington  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Militia  of  that  pro 
vince — that,  your  memorialist  during  the  late  war,  did  com 
mand  from  one  to  nine  hundred  and  fifty  men  ;  with  whom 
he  was  eno;a2;ed  in  six  and  thirtv  skirmishes  in  North  Caro- 

o    o  «- 

lina,  and  four  in  Smith  Carolina;  all  of  which  were  of  his 
own  planning  and  in  which  he  had  the  honour  to  command 
—that  your  Memorialist  killed  many  of  the  Rebels — and 
took  many  of  them  prisoners.  Among  the  latter,  were, 
Governor  Burke,  his  council,  and  many  Officers  of  distinction 
in  the  Rebel  army — that  your  Memorialist  was  during  that 
time,  twice  wounded,  and  fourteen  times  taken  prisoner : 
That,  on  the  conclusion  of  peace,  your  Memorialist  settled 
two  hundred  and  fifty  souls  in  East  Florida ;  and  having 
took  refuge  in  several  parts  of  his  Majesty's  remaining  posses 
sions  in  America,  finally  settled  in  the  province  of  New 


[  6T  ] 

Brunswick  where  he  now  is,  in  great  distress,  with  his  family. 
That  your  Memorialist,  in  consequence  of  his  said  loyalty,  to 
his  Sovereign ;  the  many  services  rendered  him ;  and  attach 
ment  to  the  British  Government,  had  his  property,  real  and 
personal,  seized,  coniiscated,  and  sold  by  rebel  authority — 
Your  Memorialist  therefore  prays  that  his  case  may  be  taken 
into  consideration ;  in  order  that  he  may  be  enabled  under 
your  report  to  receive  such  aid  or  relief,  as  his  case  may  be 
found  to  deserve. 

St.  John  March  1st  1786  DAVID  FANNING 

When  I  presented  my  claim  to  Peter  Hunter  Secretary  to 
the  Commissioners ;  he  gave  me  no  kind  of  satisfaction,  and 
on  my  asking  him  if  I  could  come  under  an  examination,  he 
told  me  to  be  gone,  he  did  not  think  the  Commissioners 
would  receive  my  claim.  When  I  found,  I  could  get  no 
hearing  at  Halifax,  at  that  time,  I  returned  home  with  a  full 
resolution  never  to  trouble  myself  any  more.  At  the  time  of 
being  in  Halifax  I  met  my  old  friend,  Cap't  John  Leg- 
gelt,  of  the  Royal  Xorth  Carolina  Regiment,  who  said  he 
would  speak  to  the  Commissioners  in  my  favour.  He  also 
gave  me  a  copy  of  the  following  letter  from  Lieut  Col'o  Arch 
McKay. — 

LONDON  Nov  15th  1785. 
DI:AR  CAPTAIN 

Ever  mindful  of  your  good  will  and  the  kindness  you 
showed  unto  me  since  I  had  the  pleasure  of  being  acquainted, 
with  you  induces  me  to  write  you  a  few  lines  at  present  in 
forming  you  of  my  success  since  I  came  to  England,  knowing 
you  would  be  glad  to  hear  of  the  provision  made  for  me. 
When  I  came  to  England,  I  got  a  hearing  by  the  Commis 
sioners  of  American  claims,  and  they  granted  me  Thirty 
pounds,  yearly  for  temporary  subsistence.  I,  then,  laid  a 
memorial  to  Sir  George  Young,  for  Captains  half  pay ;  but  I 
must  confess  I  thought  my  chances  for  that  bad  enough,  as 


[  68  ] 

I  was  not  acquainted  with  any  of  the  Generals  who  com 
manded  in  America;  but  since  it  was  only  amusement  to 
try,  I  got  a  certificate  from  Col'o  Craigg,  and  another  from 
Col'o  Hamilton ;  and  laid  them  in  with  the  memorial,  it  was 
with  a  good  many  others,  a  long  time  from  Office  to  Office ; 
at  length  they  allowed  me  Seventy  pounds  sterling,  yearly, 
for  life  for  my  services  in  America,  exclusive  of  the  Thirty 
pounds.  Upon  the  whole  I  do  not  repent  coming  to  Lon 
don,  as  things  have  turned  out. 

I  wrote  to  Cap't  McNeil  this  morning,  not  thinking  I 
should  have  time  to  write  to  you,  before  the  Ship  sailed ; 
and  I  had  not  time  to  write  to  him  so  folly,  as  I  could  wish ; 
but  I  will  mind  better  next  time. 

I  intend  to  spend  next  summer  in  Scotland,  if  every  thing 
turns  out  here  to  my  expectation.  I  would  be  glad  to  get  a 
long  letter  from  you  concerning  your  new  settlements.  You 
will  please  to  write  to  me,  under  cover  to  Messrs.  John  and 
Hector  McKay,  No.  5.  Crown  Court,  Westminster ;  and  if  I 
am  in  Britain  I  shall  be  sure  to  get  any  letter  that  may  come 
for  me.  After  my  jaunt  to  Scotland  I  hope  to  do  myself  the 
honour  to  call  and  see  you  on  my  way  to  New  Providence, 
where  Alex'r  and  Malcom  McKays  are  gone.  I  am  Sir,  with 
due  respect 

To  Your  sincere  friend  &  humble  serv't 

Capt  John  Leyett.  ARCHIBALD  McK^y" 

I  returned  home  and  continued  until  the  27th  June  1787, 
when  I  was  entering  the  suburbs  of  the  city  of  St  John.  I 
accidently  met  Ensign  Henry  Niss,  with  a  letter,  from  the 
commissioners,  desiring  me  to  attend  immediately  for  an  ex 
amination.  I  still  retained  my  opinion ;  but  on  informing 
Col'o  Joseph  Robinson  he  pre  vailed  with  me,  after  a  long 
persuasion,  to  call  and  see  the  Commissioners ;  which  I  did ; 
in  company  with  Col'o  Robinson  :  I  was  treated  with  every 
civility  and  all  attention  paid  to  me.  After  my  examination 
they  gave  me  the  following  certificate. 


[69] 

"  OFFICE  OF  AMERICAN  CLAIMS 

St  John  Id  Feby  1787. 

We  do  hereby  certify  that,  David  Fanning  has  undergone 
an  examination  on  oath  before  us,  as  an  American  sufferer 
from  No.  Ca.  We  are  satisfied  by  his  own  account,  and  by 
the  evidence  he  has  produced,  that  his  exertions  in  support 
of  the  British  Government,  as  Col'o  of  the  Chatham,  and 
Randolph  County  Militia,  during  the  late  troubles,  in  Amer 
ica,  have  been  very  great  and  exemplary ; — that  he  has  been 
severely  wounded  in  several  engagements  and  has  in  other 
respects'  been  a  great  sufferer;  though  from  particular 
reasons,  it  will  not  be  in  our  power  to  make  him  any  consid 
erable  allowance  iti  our  report.  We  therefore  recommend 
him  as  a  proper  person  to  be  put  on  the  half  pay  list  as  Cap 
tain,  and  to  have  an  annual  allowance  from  Government 
equal  to  that  half  pay. 

THOMAS  DUNDASS 
J.  PEMBERTON 

After  this  I  received  a  letter  from  my  Agent  and  found  I 
had  lost  property  to  the  amount  of  £1625.  S10.  accord 
ing  to  an  appraisment  of  three  men  acquainted  with  the 
property.  But,  as  it  was  not  like  a  coat  taken  out  of  my 
hand,  or  gold  taken  out  of  my  pocket,  I  could  not  get  any 
thing  for  my  losses,  although  I  did  not  give  in  nothing  like 
the  amount  of  my  losses.  I  lost  24  horses  ^  and  only  reported 
15;  one  of  which  cost  more  than  all  I  ever  got  from  the 
Government ;  and  six  head  of  cattle,  £289  for  property  sold 
at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  and  the  Land  which  I  was 
heir  to  and  for  which  I  refused  many  times  £3000  Virginia 
currency.  But  because  I  turned  out  in  the  service  of  my 
King  and  country  in  the  20th  year  of  my  age,  and  my  exer 
tions  were  very  exemplary,  I  have  lost  my  all,  for  and 
account  of  my  attachment  to  the  British  Crown — only  Sixty 
pounds  received  which  would  not  pay  the  expenses  I  have 
been  at  to  obtain  it. 


[  70] 

I  can  prove  what  I  have  here  wrote  to  be  facts,  and  the 
world  will  be  able  to  judge  after  reading  this  narrative ;  and 
observe  this  Act  of  oblivion  passed  in  N.  Carolina  in  the 
year  1783  which  is  hereunto  annexed — which  is  enlarged  and 
improved  in  the  London  Magazine  which  will  be  found  on 
page  607.  vol.  1.  from  July  1.  to  Dec  1.  1783. 

The  act  of  Pardon  and  Oblivion  is  there  quoted,  passed  17th 
May  1783  signed  by  RICH'D  CASWELL 

Speaker  of  Senate 
E  STARKE 

Speaker  of  Commons 

the  proviso  to  the  first  section  declares  that  "  Nothing  therein 
contained  shall  extend  pardon  to  Peter  Mallett,  David  Fan 
ning  and  Samuel  Andrews — or  any  person  guilty  of  delib 
erate  and  willful  murder ;  robbery  ;  rape  ;  house  breaking  or 
any  of  them." 

This  narrative  concludes — "  Many  people  is  fools  enough 
to  think,  because  our  three  names  is  particular  put  in  this 
Act,  that  we  are  all  guilty  of  the  crimes  set  forth. — But  I 
defy  the  world  to  charge  me  with  rape,  or  anything  more, 
than  I  have  set  forth  in  this  Journal. 

All  his  Majesty's  subjects  or  others  that  wishes  to  know 
the  truth  of  any  thing  further  than  I  have  set  forth,  let  them 
make  enquiry  of  those  gentlemen  whose  names  I  have  struck 
in ;  examine  the  letters  of  the  Rebels,  and  the  recommenda 
tions  of  the  Officers  who  have  been  acquainted  with  me  in 
person  and  with  my  services  in  the  time  of  the  late  war. 

Although  I  have  been  exhibited  from  receiving  any  bene 
fits  from  the  laws  of  the  State,  all  that  I  desire  is  to  have  the 
liberty  of  commanding  30000  men  in  favour  of  the  British 
government.  I  flatter  myself  that  there  would  be  no  doubt 
of  my  putting  many  of  them  to  swing  by  the  neck,  for  their 
honesty,  as  John  "White  did,  after  stealing  150  horses  in 
North  Carolina. 


py 


jSOTES. 


NOTE  1.    PAGE  1. 

FLEACHALL  THOMAS,  sliould  be  Fletchall,  as  it  isonpage  2.  He  was  a  Colonel, 
and  at  the  head  of  a  considerable  force  of  Loyalists  in  South  Carolina  during  the 
difficulties  with  the  Cunninghams,  in  1775;  and  signed  the  truce  or  treaty  which 
was  agreed  upon  between  the  Whigs  and  their  opponents.  After  the  surrender 
of  Charleston,  he  was  iu  commission  under  the  crown.  In  17S2  his  estate  was 
confiscated.  He  appears  to  have  been  a  person  of  much  consideration  in  South 
Carolina,  previous  to  the  Revolution  ;  and  to  have  been  regarded  as  of  rather 
doubtful  or  undecided  polities,  though  the  Whigs  made  him  a  member  of  an  im 
portant  standing  committee,  raised  with  the  design  of  carrying  out  the  views  of 
the  Continental  Congress. 

The  following  letter  to  define  his  position  is  published  by  Gibbes : 

FAIR  FOREST,  Monday,  July  24,  1775. 
HONORED  SIR: 

I  received  yours  dated  the  14th  ult.,  wherein  I  am  informed,  that  many  reports 
have  been  maliciously  asserted  against  me  to  the  Committee  of  this  Province, 
which  I  can  make  appear  to  be  false.  I  received  a  letter  from  Messrs.  John 
Caldwell,  John  and  James  Williams,  who  is  said  to  be  committee  men,  dated  the 
4th  of  this  instant,  requesting  me  to  call  my  regiment  together  in  order  to  sign  the 
Association  paper.  Accordingly  on  the  13th  of  this  instant,  I  did,  in  obedience  to 
those  gentlemen,  and  went  to  every  Captains  Company  that  was  in  the  regiment, 
when  drawn  up,  and  requested  Major  Farry  to  read  the  paper  to  every  company, 
which  accordingly  was  done.  I  don't  remember  that  one  man  oifered  to  sign 
it,  which  was  out  of  my  power  to  compel  them  too ;  but  that  it  was  agreed 
amongst  the  people  in  general  to  sign  a  paper  of  their  own  resolutions,  and  that 
application  was  made  to  Major  Joseph  Robinson,  who  was  then  present,  to  draw 
a  paper  of  some  resolves,  which  the  people  in  general  did  sign  unto,  from  Savan 
nah  river  to  Broad  river,  which  consisted  of  my  regiment,  Colonel  Starke's  regi 
ment,  and  apart  of  Colonel  Savage's  regiment.  I  must  inform  you,  sir,  there  is 
some  of  our  highland  gentlemen  who  are  very  aspiring  and  fond  of  commission, 
thinking  to  get  in  favor  with  the  gentlemen  in  town,  will  say  anything  but  the 
truth,  and  when  they  are  as  well  known  in  town  as  they  are  in  the  country,  I 
believe  they  will  be  of  my  opinion.  In  fact  we  never  had  an}*  representatives, 
not  one  man  in  fifty  ever  gave  any  vote  for  any  such  thing.  You  seem,  sir,  to 
intimate  to  me.  that  I  should  have  joined,  but  the  thought  of  losing  my  commis 
sion  seem  to  deter  me.  As  for  my  commissions,  I  care  not  who  has  them  ;  a  rnan 

13 


that  is  to  be  bought  by  a  commission,  is  not  worthy  of  one,  although  that  is  the 
price  of  many.  I  must  say  this  in  favor  of  myself,  I  never  have  concurred  in 
those  matters  now  in  hand,  knowing:  I  was  not  calculated  for  such  an  enterprise ; 
but  must  inform  you,  sir,  I  am  heartily  sorry  that  I  am  looked  on  as  an  enemy 
to  my  country.  I  wish  you  may  have  no  greater  reason  to  complain  against 
some,  that  you  little  suspect,  than  you  have  against  me.  But,  in  the  meantime, 
I  must  inform  you,  sir,  I  am  resolved,  and  do  utterly  refuse  to  take  up  arms 
against  my  king,  until  I  find  it  my  duty  to  do  otherwise  and  am  fully  convinced 
thereof. 

I  am  sir  your  honor's  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

TIIO.  FLETCHALL. 

HON.  H.  LAUREXS. 

President  Council  of  Safety. 

FAIR  FOREST,  the  residence  of  Colonel  Fletchall,  was  in  Union  district,  South 
Carolina. 

RABURN'S  CREEK  is  a  branch  of  Reedy  River ;  and  is  in  Lauren s  district,  South 
Carolina. 

"  There  was  a  very  good  prespctearing  Minister  to  call  at  the  different  places  to 
preach  and  baptize  children." 

From  Gibbes  Doc.  History  of  South  Carolina,  we  learn  that  the  Rev.  William 
Tennent  travelled  through  this  region  in  company  with  Hon.  W.  II.  Drayton  at 
the  request  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  of  South  Carolina.  The  one  for  the  pur 
poses  seated  by  Fanning,  the  other  to  rouse  the  people  to  the  cause  of  the 
colony.  On  the  21st  Aug.,  1775,  Mr.  Tennent  preached  on  Long  Cane  Creek 
"  at  one  of  Mr.  Harris'  preaching  stands."  This  Journal  says  :  "  After  the  ser 
mon,  spoke  as  usual  on  the  subject  of  my  mission,  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Harris 
and  Mr.  Salvador  to  good  effect,  returned  to  Mr.  Reed's.  The  congregation  was 
solemn  and  affected.  Mr.  Calhoun  and  other  gentlemen  returned  with  me,  aud 
spent  the  evening  on  subjects  fit  for  the  times." 

Tennent'1  s  Journal  in  Gibbes  Doc.  His.  1764-'70,  page  232. 


NOTE  2.     PAGE  2. 

O'NEAL  HENRY,  of  South  Carolina.  Was  in  commission  under  the  crown  after 
the  surrender  of  Charleston.  His  estate  was  confiscated. 

NOTE  3.     PAGE  2. 

BROWN  THOMAS,  of  Augusta,  Georgia.  Having  openly  reviled  the  "Whigs  at  a 
dinner  party  in  1775,  he  was  arrested,  tried,  and  condemned  to  be  tarred  and 
feathered,  and  publicly  exposed  in  a  cart,  to  be  drawn  three  miles,  or  until  he 
was  willing  to  take  an  oath  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  republicans.  He  chose 
the  latter  only  to  get  off  from  a  part  of  the  punishment,  for  he  soon  joined  the 
British  armv  and  was  made  Lieutenant  Colonel.  After  the  fall  of  Charleston 


Brown  was  stationed  at  Augusta,  and  while  commandant  at  that  place  retaliated 
upon  the  Whigs,  with  a  fierceness  commensurate  with  his  wrath.  He  sent  out 
detachments  to  burn  the  dwellings  of  the  patriots  in  his  vicinity,  and  dispatched 
emissaries  among  the  Indians  to  incite  them  to  murder  the  inhabitants  on  the 
frontier.  His  authority  for  these  atrocities  was  a  letter  which  Cornwallis  had 
sent  to  the  commanders  of  all  the  British  outposts,  ordering  that  all  those  who 
had  "  taken  part  in  the  revolt  should  be  punished  with  the  utmost  rigor  and  also 
that  those  who  would  not  turn  out  should  be  imprisoned,  and  their  whole  prop 
erty  taken  from  them  or  destroyed."  Every  militiaman  who  had  borne  arms 
in  the  King's  service,  and  afterwards  joined  the  Whigs,  was  to  be  "immediately 
hanged."  Brown  fulfilled  his  order  to  the  letter.  Officers,  soldiers  and  citizens 
were  brought  to  the  place  of  execution  without  being  informed  why  they  were 
taken  out  of  prison.  The  morning  after  the  receipt  of  this  letter,  five  victims 
were  taken  from  the  jail  by  order  of  Col.  Brown,  all  of  whom  expired  on  the 
gibbet. 

NOTE  4.     PAGE  2. 

CUNNINGHAM  ROBERT,  was  an  Irish  settler  in  the  district  of  Ninety-six,  now 
Abbeville,  where  he  was  commissioned  a  judge  in  1770.  He  incurred  the  dis 
pleasure  of  the  Whigs  in  1775,  when  he  disapproved  of  their  proceedings  in  sus 
taining  the  cause  of  Massachusetts,  and  in  the  adoption  of  the  non-importation 
act.  In  the  course  of  that  year  he  was  seized  and  imprisoned  in  Charleston. 
His  brother,  Patrick,  assembled  a  body  of  friends  in  order  to  effect  his  release. 
The  Whigs  dispatched  Major  Williamson  with  a  force  to  prevent  the  accom 
plishment  of  their  object;  but  Cunningham's  party  being  superior,  he  was  com 
pelled  to  retreat.  A  truce  or  treaty  was  finally  arranged,  and  both  Whigs  and 
Tories  dispersed.  In  July  of  1776,  Robert  Cunningham  was  allowed  his  freedom 
without  condition,  and  removed  to  Charleston.  In  1780  he  was  created  a 
Brigadier  General,  and  placed  in  command  of  a  garrison  in  South  Carolina;  but 
in  1781  was  at  the  head  of  a  force  in  the  field,  and  encountered  Sumter.  His 
estate  was  confiscated  in  1782.  After  the  peace  he  petitioned  to  be  allowed  to 
continue  in  South  Carolina.  His  request  was  refused,  and  he  removed  to 
Nassau,  New  Providence.  The  British  Government  made  him  a  liberal  allow 
ance  for  his  losses,  and  gave  him  an  annuity.  He  died  in  1813,  aged  sixty-four 
years. 

NOTE  5.     PAGE  3. 

ROBINSON  JOSEPH.  A  native  of  South  Carolina  who  held  a  royal  commission 
after  the  capitulation  of  Charleston.  His  estate  was  confiscated. 

NOTE  6.     PAGE  11. 

CUNNINGHAM  WILLIAM,  of  South  Carolina,  was  known  as  "  Bloody  Bill,"  and 
there  seems  no  little  evidence  to  show  that  he  deserved  the  appellation.  He 
commanded  a  band  of  Tory  marauders  known  as  the  "Bloody  Scout,"  and  for 
a  while  they  spread  terror  throughout  the  region  which  they  infested,  embracing 
the  Union  and  Spartanburg  districts  and  also  south  of  the  Ennoree.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  war  he  was  inclined  to  be  a  Whig,  accepted  a  military 


commission  and  served  in  the  campaign  of  1770.  Changing  sides,  he  became 
au  officer  and  a  Major  in  the  service  of  the  Crown,  and  was  engaged  in  many 
desperate  exploits  and  hand  to  hand  fights.  The  most  active  opponent  of  this 
scoundrel  was  William  Beale  of  Ninety-Six.  He  formed  a  scouting  party  of 
Whigs  and  they  soon  became  a  terror  to  the  Tories.  On  one  occasion  Cunning 
ham  and  his  party  plundered  the  house  of  Beale's  mother  during  his  absence. 
On  his  return,  Beale  went  in  pursuit,  and  approaching  Cunningham,  the  latter 
wheeled,  and  with  a  pistol  shot  Beale's  horse  dead.  On  another  occasion  Cun 
ningham  and  his  party  surrounded  a  house  where  Beale  and  a  Whig  were  stay 
ing.  They  heard  the  approach  of  the  Tories,  when  rushing  to  their  horses  and 
rattling  their  swords,  Beale  gave  command  as  if  to  a  troop.  It  was  dark,  and 
Cunningham,  who  had  thirteen  men  with  him,  fled  in  great  haste. 

Cunningham's  property  was  confiscated  in  17*83,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  he 
retreated  to  Florida. 

COLONEL  MILLS,  whose  name  appears  in  this  connection,  was  taken  prisoner  at 
King's  Mountain,  and  was  one  of  the  twelve  Tories  executed  after  the  battle. 

COLONEL  PICKENS,  was  the  father  of  the  late  Governor  Andrew  Pickeus,  and 
grandfather  of  the  present  Governor  Francis  Pickens  of  South  Carolina. 

NOTE  7.     PAGE  13. 

DE  PETSTER  ABRAHAM,  of  New  York.  He  was  Captain  in  the  New  York 
volunteers.  At  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain  he  was  second  in  command,  and 
immediately  after  the  fall  of  Major  Ferguson  hoisted  a  flag  as  a  signal  of  surren 
der.  He  was  paid  off  on  the  morning  of  this  battle,  and  his  life  was  saved  by  a 
bullet  striking  a  doubloon  in  the  pocket  of  his  vest.  He  went  to  St.  John,  N.B., 
at  the  peace,  and  received  half  pay.  He  was  treasurer  of  the  colony  and  a 
Colonel  in  the  militia.  He  died  about  1798. 

The  action  at  Musgrove's  Mill,  on  the  Ennorce  river,  is  thus  mentioned  by 
Lossiug:  "On  the  18th  of  August,  1780,  Col.  Williams  (who  fell  at  King's 
Mountain  a  few  weeks  after),  with  Colonels  Shelby  and  Clark,  attacked  quite  a 
large  body  of  British,  under  Colonel  Inuis  and  Major  Fraser,  near  Mnsgrove's 
Mill,  upon  the  Ennoree,  in  the  northeastern  corner  of  Laurens  district.  Man}' 
Tories  were  collected  there,  and  were  joined  on  the  seventeenth  by  Innis  and 
Fraser.  The  whole  force  was  about  three  hundred  strong,  and  were  encamped 
upon  the  south  side  of  the  river,  where  they  commanded  a  bad  rocky  ford.  The 
Americans,  whose  force  was  much  less,  took  post  on  the  north  side  upon  a  small 
creek  which  empties  into  the  Ennoree  just  below  the  Spartanburg  line,  about 
two  miles  above  Musgrove's  Mill.  It  was  agreed  that  Williams  should  have  the 
chief  command.  lie  drew  up  his  little  army  in  ambush,  in  a  semicircle  within 
a  wood,  and  then  proceeded  to  entice  the  enemy  across  the  river.  For  this  pur 
pose  he  took  a  few  picked  men,  appeared  at  the  ford,  and  fired  upon  the  enemy. 
The  stratagem  was  successful.  Inuis  immediately  crossed  the  ford  to  dislodge 
the  'rebels.'  Williams  and  his  party  retreated  hotly  pursued  by  Innis  until 
within  the  area  of  the  patriot  ambuscade,  when  a  single  shot  by  Colonel  Shelby 
gave  the  signal  for  attack.  With  a  loud  shout  the  concealed  Americans  arose, 
and  in  two  minutes  the  Tories  were  completely  surrounded.  Colonel  Innis  was 
slightly  wounded,  but,  with  the  larger  part  of  his  regulars,  he  escaped.  Major 


•  [  75  ] 

Fraser  was  killed  with  eighty-five  others.  Colonel  Clary,  the  commander  of  the 
militia,  escaped,  but  most  of  his  men  were  made  prisoners.  The  Americans  lost 
four  killed  and  eleven  wounded." 


FERGUSON  MAJOR  PATRICK,  was  a  Scotchman,  a  son  of  the  eminent  jurist, 
James  Ferguson,  and  nephew  of  Patrick  Murray  (Lord  Elibank).  He  entered 
the  army  in  Flanders  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  He  came  to  America  in  the 
spring  of  1777,  and  was  active  in  the  battle  on  the  Brandywine,  in  September  of 
that  year.  He  was  active  on  the  Hudson  in  1779,  and  accompanied  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  to  South  Carolina.  He  invented  an  improvement  in  rifles,  which  was 
used  with  much  effect.  He  so  distinguished  himself  at  the  siege  of  Charleston 
in  1780,  that  he  was  particularly  mentioned  by  the  commander-in-chief.  He  was 
on  the  High  road  to  military  fame  when  he  was  slain  at  King's  Mountain,  7th 
Oct.,  1780. 

This  defeat  over  the  Royal  arms  was  fatal  to  Lord  Cornwallis'  first  invasion  of 
North  Carolina.  Fanning,  it  appears,  was  with  Maj.  Ferguson  on  the  2d  Oct.  on 
Ferguson's  retreat  from  Gilberttowu  to  King's  Mountain. 

COL.  WILLIAMS,  whose  name  is  mentioned  in  Note  7,  fell  in  this  battle.  He 
was  a  native  of  Granville  county,  N.  Carolina.  He  moved  to  S.  Carolina  in  1773. 
He  early  espoused  the  patriot  cause.  After  the  battle  at  Musgrove's  Mill  he 
raised  a  corps  of  cavalry  in  N.  Carolina,  and  returning  to  S.  Carolina,  continu 
ally  hovered  around  Ferguson's  camp  and  watching  his  movements.  He  was 
near  Major  Ferguson,  and  both  officers  received  their  death-wounds  at  the  same 
moment.  He  died  on  the  morning  after  the  battle,  and  was  buried  within  two 
miles  of  the  place  where  he  fell.  Tradition  says  his  first  words  after  reviving  a 
little,  soon  after  he  was  shot,  were,  "For  God's  sake,  boys,  don't  give  up  the 
hill !"  He  had  two  sons,  Daniel  and  Joseph,  of  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  sixteen, 
in  this  battle,  and  both  of  them  escaped  unhurt,  but  were  afterwards  murdered 
in  cold  blood  by  a  band  of  Tories  under  Robert  Cunningham,  who  had  a  personal 
conflict  with  their  fatheraud  mother  at  the  beginning  of  the  revolution. 

NOTE  9.    PAGE  14. 

His  (Cornwallis)  pursuing  Gen'l  Greene.  For  an  interesting  account  of  this 
pursuit,  see  the  account  in  "  Lossing's  Field-Book  of  the  Revolution,"  2d  volume, 
page  600  to  004. 

.  CHARLES,  EARL  of  CORNWALLIS,  was  born  in  1738.  In  his  early  career  friendly 
to  the  cause  of  the  colonists ;  sent  to  America,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Brandy- 
wine,  1777;  commanded  at  Camden,  S.  C.,  and  defeated  Gen'l  Gates  in  1780; 
also  at  Guilford,  N.  C.,  and  defeated  Gen'l  Greene  on  15th  March,  1781.  Sur 
rendered  at  Yorktown  with  all  his  army  to  Washington,  19  Oct.,  1781.  Governor 
of  East  Indies  in  1786.  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland  in  1798.  Governor-General 
of  India  in  1804,  and  died  at  Ghazepoore  1805,  leaving  issue. 

The  destruction  of  the  Tories  under  Col'o  P\'les  by  Col.  Lee  was  complete. 
Caruthers,  in  his  Revolutionary  Incidents,  or  Old  North  State  in  1776  (page  151), 
states  that  Fanning  was  with  Piles  on  this  occasion.  This  is  an  error.  Fanning 
says  himself  that  "  at  this  time  he  was  at  Deep  River." 


[  76  ] 

NOTE  10.     PAGE  14. 

GUILFORD.  The  battle  of  Guilford  Court-House  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  the 
Americans.  Although  they  had  double  the  number  of  men  commanded  by 
Coruwallis,  yet  they  were  completely  routed ;  but  the  British  did  not  triumph 
greatly  over  it,  for,  when  the  news  reached  England,  Fox  moved  in  committee 
"That  his  Majesty's  Ministers  ought  immediately  to  take  every  possible  meas 
ure  for  concluding  peace  with  our  American  Colonies  ;"  and  in  debate  he  declared, 
"  Another  such  victory  will  ruin  the  British  army."  The  loss  of  the  British  was, 
in  killed  and  wounded,  over  six  hundred  men,  besides  officers.  That  of  the 
Americans  about  four  hundred,  and  eight  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  Va.  and  N.  C. 
Militia  deserted. 

NOTE  11.     PAGE  17. 

HAMILTON,  JOHN.  A  native  of  Scotland.  Previous  to  the  Revolution  he  was, 
for  some  years,  a  merchant  in  the  town  of  Halifax,  of  much  wealth,  influence  and 
sagacity.  His  Regiment  was  an  important  portion  of  Cornwallis'  forces  in  the 
campaigns  of  1780  and  1781 ;  and  it  may  be  well  doubted  whether  any  loyalist  in 
any  one  of  the  Provinces  served  the  crown  throughout  the  entire  period  of  the 
contest  with  equal  ability,  fidelity  and  effect.  In  1779  his  property  was  confis 
cated.  He  was  for  many  years  after  the  Revolution  the  British  Consul  at  Nor 
folk,  Va. — See  Lectures  on  Rev.  Hist,  of  N.  C.,  by  Hawks,  Swain  and  Graham,  pages 
131,  133. 

DUDLEY,  GUILFORD,  mentioned  by  Fanning  on  page  1C,  was  born  in  1750,  and 
resided  at  Halifax,  where  he  claims  to  have  assisted  in  raising,  in  1774,  the  first 
volunteer  company  organized  in  America  for  the  conflict.  In  1776  he  served  in 
the  campaign  which  terminated  in  the  battle  of  Moore's  Creek.  He  was  in  the 
battle  of  Camden,  and  bore  from  the  field  the  gallant  Col.  Portcrfield  mortally 
wounded.  He  fought  at  Hobkirk's  Hill,  and  continued  in  the  service  till  the 
autumn  of  1781.  He  married  a  niece  of  John  Randolph,  of  Roanoke,  and  his 
son,  Dr.  J.  B.  Dudley,  published  a  volume  of  the  letters  of  the  great  parliamen 
tarian.  For  interesting  autobiographical  notices  see  papers  published  in  the 
Southern  Literary  Messenger,  vol.  2,  144,  251,  281-370,  by  Charles  Campbell. 

NOTE  12.     PAGE  20. 

TURNER  EOBERT.  Sabine  only  says  of  him,  that  he  was  of  Guilford  county, 
N.  C.,  and  his  property  was  confiscated  in  1779. 

It  is  no  less  true  than  curious  of  the  list  of  names  presented  by  Fanning  as 
his  coadjutors  in  his  dark  and  bloody  acts,  how  few  died  natural  deaths.  The 
antiquarian  researches  of  Gov.  Swain,  furnish  the  following  particulars  of  their 
history.  Fanning  himself  narrowly  escaped  the  gibbet  in  1800,  for  rape  com 
mitted  in  St.  John,  N.  B. 

JOHN  RAINS  (Major)  was  alive  in  1819  in  Tennessee,  a  miller  and  very  poor. 

RICHARD  EDWARDS  was  killed  at  Kirk's  farm  a  week  before  the  battle  of  Cane 
Creek. 

EDWARD  EDWARDS,  his  brother,  who  succeeded  to  the  command,  was  killed 
the  next  week  at  Lindlev's  Mills. 


/  i 

MERDETH  EDWARDS,  THOMAS  DARK,  THOMAS  EASTRIDGE  and  THOMAS  RICK- 
ETTS  were  convicted  of  treason  at  Hillsboro  in  January,  1782,  and  executed. 

JOHN  RAINS,  Srv  was  killed  at  Lindlcy's  Mill. 

JOHN  CAGLE,  or  Eagle,  hanged  at  Pee  Dee. 

JAMES  RICE  hanged  at  same  place. 

DAVID  JACKSON  hanged  in  the  lower  end  of  Randolph. 

STEPHEN  WALKER  was  shot  in  April,  1782,  by  Col.  Gholson  on  Deep  River. 

JAMES  LINDLEY,  SIMON  LIKDLEY,  were  shot  in  the  mountains. 

THOMAS  BLAIR  settled  on  New  River,  built  iron  works,  and  became  rich. 

JOHN  McLEAN  (sober  John),  who  had  charge  of  Gov'r  Burke  when  a  prisoner, 
settled  on  the  lower  Cape  Fear,  near  the  Bluff  Church,  under  the  protection  of 
his  whig  friend  John  Smith. 

ALEXANDER  McKAY  died  a  rich  man  in  the  West  Indies. 

CAPT.  DANIEL  McNEiLL  went  to  Nova  Scotia. 

COL.  DUNCAN  RAY  went  to  Nova  Scotia. 

PETER  MALLETT.  In  regard  to  this  gentleman  (who  is  specially  exeepted 
with  Fanning  and  Samuel  Andrews  in  the  act  of  1783  of  pardon  and  oblivion), 
his  autobiography  still  extant,  and  other  evidence,  will  show  that  he  was  the  vic 
tim  of  prejudice,  arising  from  abuses  in  the  commissary  department  to  which  he 
belonged.  He  was  a  man  of  intelligence  and  integrity. 

McDcGALD  ARCH.  Col.  He  is  probably  the  Colonel  MeDougal  who  desired 
Fanning  "  not  to  insert  in  his  narrative  anything  of  his  servessas,  as  he  intended 
going  back  to  North  Carolina  to  live."  It  being  well  known  that  he  went  to 
Nova  Scotia,  where  he  remained  five  or  six  years,  then  to  London,  obtained  a 
pension,  and  afterwards  returned  to  North  Carolina,  where  he  lived  to  a  good 
old  age,  raised  a  respectable  family,  and  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  a  generous, 
warm-hearted  man. 

NOTE  13.    PAGE  23. 

Caruthers  gives  a  graphic  account  of  the  attack  by  Fanning  on  Col.  Alston, 
mentioned  by  him  on  page  27,  in  his  interesting  Revolutionary  Incidents  ;  and 
the  heroic  conduct  of  Alston's  wife,  by  whose  solicitations  Col.  Alston's  life  and 
that  of  his  men  was  spared.  "  The  house,"  says  Dr.  Caruthers,  "  stands  now 
just  as  it  did  then,  with  the  exception  of  some  additions,  and  bears  all  the 
marks  of  war  that  it  had  when  left  by  Fanning."  "  Dr.  Chalmers  now  lives  in 
the  house  which  was  then  occupied  by  Col.  Alston.  Col.  Alston  lived  only  a 
short  time  after  the  war,  having  been  killed  by  a  negro  whom  he  had  treated 
with  severity  or  provoked  in  some  way."  "  Dr.  Chalmers,  two  or  three  sum 
mers  ago,  travelled  through  the  State  of  Tennessee,  and  became  acquainted  with 
the  sons  of  Col.  Alston." 

NOTE  14.     PAGE  30. 

LEGGETT  JOHN.  Was  Captain  in  Col.  Hamilton's  Royal  North  Carolina  Regi 
ment.  His  property  was  confiscated  in  1779,  and  purchased  by  General  Harring 
ton,  who,  though  he  had  been  greatly  injured  by  him,  generously  conveyed  the 
land  to  Leggett's  wife  and  daughters.  Leggett  was  with  Fanning  and  others  at 
St.  Augustine  in  1783,  but  subsequently  returned  to  North  Carolina. 


[  78  ] 

NOTE  15.     PAGE  32. 

MCNEIL  HECTOR.  In  the  first  military  elections  after  the  Koyal  Government 
was  at  an  end,  he  received  a  commission  from  the  Whigs.  But  in  1770  he  ap 
peared  in  arms  against  them,  and  was  taken  prisoner  and  confined  in  jail ;  sub 
sequently  he  held  the  rank  of  Colonel  on  the  side  of  the  crown,  and  commanded 
the  Scotch  forces  under  Fanning,  when  Gen.  Burke  was  captured  on  the  12th 
(or  according  to  contemporaneous  records,  the  13th)  of  September,  1781.  He  is 
represented  to  have  been  a  man  of  good  moral  character,  and  as  brave  as  a  lion. 
He  fell  at  the  head  of  his  command  a  day  or  two  after  the  capture  of  Hills- 
borough,  at  the  battle  of  Cane  Creek,  pierced  by  five  or  six  balls. 

MEBANE.  This  family  is  still  numerous  in  Orange,  Caswell,  Guilford,  and 
other  counties  in  North  Carolina ;  and  branches  of  it  have  pervaded  and  popu 
lated  the  States  of  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  Arkansas,  Louisiana  and 
Texas.  It  is  distinguished  for  patriotism,  integrity  and  strong  common  sense. 
The  common  ancestor  was  ALEXANDER,  who  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  who 
emigrated  to  Pennsylvania  long  before  our  revolution,  where  he  remained  sev 
eral  years.  He  moved  to  North  Carolina,  and  settled  in  the  Haw  fields,  in 
Orange  county.  He  was  skillful  and  persevering  in  his  business,  and  acquired 
considerable  wealth. 

When  the  Revolution  broke  out,  he,  with  his  sons,  took  a  decided  stand  for 
liberty,  for  which  the  British  and  Tories  committed  great  depredations  upon  his 
property.  He  was  too  old  himself  for  service,  but  his  sons,  six,  were  all  in  the 
service  of  the  country. 

I.  WILLIAM  was  a  Captain  of  Militia,  member  of  the  Senate  in  1782,  twice 
married,  1st  to  Miss  Abercrombie,  and  2d  to  a  daughter  of  Eev'd  Benjamin 
Rainy  ;  no  issue  by  either. 

II.  ROBERT,  the  person  alluded  to  by  Fanning,  a  Colonel  in  the  Continental 
Army,  was  with  Gen'l  Rutherford  in  1776,  in  "  snowy  campaign"  against  "  the 
Overhill  Cherokees,"  remarkable  for  his  athletic  and  large  person,  in  many  bat 
tles  and  skirmishes  with  the  British  and  Tories,  and  distinguished  for  valour  at 
the  battle  of  Cane  Creek,  where  he  attacked  and  defeated  Fanning.     On  his  way 
from  the  Cape  Fear  country,  he  was  killed  by  Henry  Hightower,  a  noted  Tory 
and  horse-thief.     Dr.  John  A.  Mebane,  of  Greensboro,  has  his  sword,  taken  from 
a  British  officer. 

III.  ALEXANDER,  born  in  Pennsylvania,  26th  Nov.  1744,  active  in  the  cause  of 
liberty,  Commissary  at  Hillsboro,  when  Cormvallis  took  the  town,  and  narrowly 
escaped  on  foot,  losing  a  valuable  mare,  saddle,  bridle,  holsters  and  pistols ;  mem 
ber  of  the  Convention  or  Congress  that  met  at  Halifax,  Dee.  1776,  to  form  the 
Constitution  of  N.  C.,  and  of  the  Convention  at  Hillsboro,  that  rejected  the  Fed 
eral  Constitution.     Member  of  House  of  Commons,  in  1783,  with  some  intermis 
sions,  till  1791.     Elected  by  the  Legislature  Brigadier-General.     In  1793,  elected 
a  member  of  Congress,  and  served  in  Philadelphia.     Re-elected  to  Congress,  but 
died  before  the  session,  5th  July,  1795.     Twice  married,  1st  Mary  Armstrong,  by 
whom  he  had  twelve  children  (four  sons  and  eight  daughters),  and  2d  Elizabeth 
Kinchen,  by  whom  he  had  six  children  (five  sons  and  one  daughter).     Of  these 
James  Mebane  late  of  Yaneeyville  (father  of  Giles  Mebane,  Esq.,  now  of  Ala- 
mance),  the  first  President  of  the  Dialectic  Society,  who  have  his  portrait  in  their 


hall  at  Chapel  Hill,  is  one.  William  Mebane,  late  of  Mason  Hall  (father  of  Dr. 
Alexander  W.  Mebane,  late  of  Bertie  county),  was  another,  and  Dr.  John  A. 
Mebane,  now  of  Greensboro,  is  another. 

IV.  JOHN,  late  of  Chatham,  was  a  Captain  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  in  the 
cause  of  his  country.     When  Fanning  took  Hillsboro,  he  was  taken  with  the 
Governor,  Thomas  Burke,  William  Kiuchen  and  others,  by  Fanning,  and  carried 
to  Wilmington;  thence  he  was  taken  to  Charleston,  long  confined  there  as  pris 
oner,  and  suffered  extremely  from  the  heat,  filth  and  privation. 

Member  of  Legislature  with  intervals  from  1790  to  1811.  Married  Elizabeth, 
widow  of  William  Kinchen,  his-  fellow-prisoner.  A  son,  John  Briggs  Mebane, 
was  in  the  Legislature  in  1813,  and  a  daughter  married  Thomas  Hill,  of  Rocking- 
ham  county. 

V.  JAMES  was  an  active  officer  of  the  Revolution,  married  Margaret  Allen,  by 
whom  lie  left  a  large  family. 

VI.  DAVID,  the  youngest,  was  not  old  enough  to  do  much  service  in  the  war 
until  near  the  close.    He  served  two  tours  in  the  militia.    He  represented  Orange 
county  in  the  House  of  Commons  in  1808, -9  and  10;  twice  married;  1st  Miss 
Allen,  and  2d  Mrs.  Young,  of  Caswell.     Geo.  A.  Mebane,  postmaster  and  mer 
chant  of  Mason  Hall,  and  a  large  family  of  children,  still  bear  his  name. 

NOTE  16.     PAGE  37. 

FANNING  EDWARD,  Honorable,  of  North  Carolina.  Was  a  native  of  Long 
Island,  New  York,  son  of  Col.  Phineas  Fanning.  He  was  educated  at  Yale  Col 
lege,  and  graduated  with  honor  in  1757.  He  soon  afterwards  went  to  North  Caro 
lina  and  began  the  profession  of  a  lawyer  at  Hillsborough,  then  called  Childs- 
borough.  In  1760  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  his  alma  mater. 
In  1703  he  was  appointed  Colonel  of  Orange  county,  and  in  17(55  was  made  clerk  of 
the  Superior  Court  at  Hillsborough.  He  also  represented  Orange  county  in  the 
Colonial  Legislature.  In  common  with  other  crown  officers,  he  appears  to  have 
exacted  exorbitant  fees  for  legal  services,  and  consequently  incurred  the  dislike 
of  the  people,  which  was  finally  manifested  by  acts  of  violence.  He  accompanied 
Governor  Tryon  to  New  York  in  1771  as  his  secretary.  Governor  Martin  asked 
the  Legislature  to  indemnify  Colonel  Fanning  for  his  losses  ;  the  representatives 
of  the  people  rebuked  the  Governor  for  presenting  such  a  petition.  In  1776 
General  Howe  gave  Fanning  the  commission  of  Colonel,  and  he  raised  and  com 
manded  a  corps  called  the  King1  a  American.  Regiment  of  Foot.  He  was  afterwards 
appointed  to  the  lucrative  office  of  Surveyor-General,  which  he  retained  until 
his  flight,  with  other  Loyalists,  to  Nova  Scotia  in  1783.  In  1786  he  was  made 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  in  1794  he  was  appointed  Governor  of 
Prince  Edward's  Island.  He  held  the  latter  office  about  nineteen  years,  a  part  of 
which  time  he  was  also  a  Brigadier  in  the  British  army,  having  received  his  com 
mission  in  1808.  He  died  in  London  in  1818.  He  was  in  no  way  related  to 
Daniel  Fanning,  and  though  a  man  of  more  extensive  attainments  and  imposing 
address,  had  less  ability  than  his  bold  bad  namesake. 

NOTE  17.     PAGE  37. 

KING'S  AMERICANS.  This  is  the  body  of  soldiers  alluded  to  in  the  preceding 
note  as  the  "  King's  American  Regiment  of  Foot,"  of  Lossing's  Field-Book,  and 

14 


[80] 


as  the  "  Associated  Refugees,  or  King's  American  Regiment,"  of  Sabine's  Loy 
alists.  The  "letter"  mentioned  in  the  text  is  one  of  the  omissions  mentioned 
in  the  preface. 

NOTE  18.     PAGE  40. 

JACKSON  DAVID.  Captain  of  a  corps  of  Loyalists :  was  taken  prisoner  by 
Colonel  Caswell  at  Moore's  Creek  in  1776. 

NOTE  13.     PAGE  49. 

"HAND  AND  ARM."  Governor  Martin's  proclamation  of  the  25th  of  Decem 
ber  preceding  (page  40)  concludes,  "Given  under  nuj  hand  and  seal  of  arms  at 
Halifax."  Fanning,  in  imitation  of  the  Governor,  either  through  ignorance  or 
intention,  says,  "  given  under  my  hand  and  arm  as  aforesaid." 

NOTE  30.     PAGE  50. 

"There  was."  The  word  "no"  is  evidently  omitted  here,  as  Col.  Balfour  cer 
tainly  meant  to  say,  "  There  was  no  resting  place  for  a  Tory's  foot  upon  the 
earth." 

BALFOUR  ANDREW,  was  born  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  of  respectable  parent 
age.  He  arrived  in  America  in  1772,  and  settled  at  Newport,  Rhode  Island. 
In  1777  he  went  to  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and  engaged  in  making  salt.  He 
removed  to  Salisbury,  North  Carolina,  in  1778,  and  purchased  or  obtained  lands 
in  Randolph  county.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  from  this  county  in 
1780.  Such  was  his  activity  in  the  cause  of  his  adopted  country,  that  he  was 
taken  prisoner  in  the  fall  of  this  year  (1780),  with  Jacob  Shepard,  father  of  the 
Hon.  Augustine  II.  Shepard,  by  a  party  of  Tories  under  the  command  of  Col. 
Coulson.  When  carrying  them  as  prisoners  to  Cheraw  they  were  released  by 
Captain  Childs,  from  Montgomery  county.  He  returned  to  his  home,  when  his 
house  was  attacked  by  Fanning,  and  lie  was  cruelly  murdered  by  Fanning,  his 
daughter  and  sister  clinging  to  him  in  despair,  on  Sunday,  10th  March,  1782. 
His  widow,  who  came  to  North  Carolina  after  his  death,  Dec.,  1784,  was  much 
respected,  and  held  the  office  of  Post  Master  at  Salisbury  until  1825,  discharg 
ing  its  duties  with  great  fidelity  and  acceptability.  Her  son  Andrew  married 
Mary  Henly.  and  had  nine  children  (live  sons  and  four  daughters),  all  of  whom 
removed  to  the  west  except  Mrs.  Eliza  Drake,  wife  of  Col.  Drake,  of  Ashboro. 
His  daughter  Tibby  married  John  Troy,  who  had  three  children  :  John  Balfour 
Troy,  now  of  Randolph  co.,  Margaret,  who  died  in  Davidson  county  in  1813,  and 
Rachel,  who  married  Lewis  Beard,  now  in  the  west.  His  third  and  remaining 
child,  Margaret,  married  Hudson  Hughes,  of  Salisbury,  who  had  two  daughters, 
one  of  whom  married  Samuel  Reeves,  of  Salisbury. 

NOTE  21.     PAGE  (51. 

SIR  GUY  CARLETON,  Coraraander-in-Chief.  Guy  Carleton,  afterwards  Lord 
Dorchester,  was  Wolfs  quartermaster  at  the  storming  of  Quebec,  and  was 
appointed  a  Major  in  the  British  army  in  1772.  In  1774  he  was  constituted  Cap 
tain  General  and  Governor  of  Quebec  or  Canada.  He  successfully  commanded 


the  British  at  Quebec  when  attacked  by  Montgomery  in  1775,  compelled  the 
Americans  to  raise  the  siege  in  1776,  and  drove  them  out  of  the  province.  In 
October  he  recaptured  Crown  Point.  He  was  unjustly  superseded  in  military 
command  by  Burgoyuc  in  1777.  He  was  appointed  to  succeed  Sir  Henry  Clinton 
in  1783,  and  was  in  command  of  the  British  troops  when  they  evacuated  New 
York,  on  the  25th  of  November,  178:3.  He  died  in  England  at  thu  close  of  1808, 
aged  83  years. 

NOTE  22.     PAGE  61. 

COLONEL  BALLINGALL,  was  in  commission  under  the  Crown  in  South  Caro 
lina  after  the  surrender  of  Charleston,  in  1780.  He  was  an  addresser  of  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  in  1780,  and  willing  to  take  up  arms  in  behalf  of  the  Crown. 

NOTE  23.     PAGE  01. 

WILLIAMS  ROBERT,  was  banished  and  attainted,  and  his  estate  confiscated,  in 
1785. 

NOTE  24.    PAGE  62. 

GAILLIARD  JOHN.  John  and  Theodore  Gailliard  were  both  members  of  the 
Provincial  Congress  of  North  Carolina  in  1775,  when  they  were  probably  Whigs. 
In  1780,  they  held  commission  under  the  crown. 

NOTE  25.    PAGE  62. 

GREENWOOD,  MAJOR  WM.,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  was  an  addresser  of 
Sir  Henry  Clinton,  in  1780,  and  a  petitioner  to  be  armed  on  the  side  of  the  Crown. 
He  was  banished  and  his  property  confiscated  in  1782. 

NOTE  26.    PAGE  62. 

CAPER  MAJOR  GABRIEL,  was  a  conspicuous  member  of  the  Provincial  Con 
gress  of  South  Carolina,  in  1775. 

NOTE  27.    PAGE  62. 

HOPTON  JOHN,  a  merchant  of  Charleston.  His  property  was  confiscated,  for 
which  he  was  partially  remunerated.  He  died  in  1831. 

NOTE  28.    PAGE  62. 

MILLAR  ANDREW,  a  respectable  Scotch  merchant  in  Halifax.  He  was  a  friend 
and  correspondent  of  Governor  Burke  before  the  revolution.  Several  letters  of 
his  are  in  the  archives  of  the  Historical  Society  of  the  University  of  North  Caro 
lina.  His  property  was  confiscated  in  1779. 

NOTE  29. 

CARSON  WM.,  of  South  Carolina,  went  to  London  during  the  war,  and  signed 
an  address  to  the  King  in  1779. 


INDEX. 


ALSTON,  Philip,  27,  46,  (note  13). 
Autrey,  Abs.,  20. 
Andrews,  Samuel,  23, 

(specially  excepted  in  act  of  obli 
vion,)  70. 

BALFOUR,  Col.,  17,  29, 

killed,  51, 

(for  sketch  of,  see  note  20.) 
Bancroft,  Geo.,  xvii. 
Bliss,  Porter  C.,  xvi. 
Brown,  Thomas.  2. 
Big  Cane  Break,  3. 
Burns,  John,  3,  46. 
Brown,  Samuel,  6. 
Daniel,  20. 
Wm.,  21. 
Bird,  Rich'd,  19. 
Burke,    Gov'r,    (taken    by    Fanning,) 

33,  52. 

Butler,  Gen'l,  33,  34,  49. 
Bryan,  Capt.  John,  (Rebel,  killed,  his 

heroism,  51.) 

Ballingall,  Col.,  61,  (see' note  22.) 
Bryan,  Sam'l,  62. 
Baron,  Dr.,  62. 
Blair,  Thomas,  (see  note  12.) 

CUNNIXGHAM,  William,  xi,  11  ; 

for  biography  of.  see  note  6. 

Robert,  2,  12  ; 
for  biography  of,  see  note  4. 
Cherokee  Indians,  3,  4. 
Cornwallis,  Lord,  13,  14,  15, 

(for  sketch  of,  see  note  9.) 


Chatham  Court  House,  15,  23. 
Cross  Creek,  (now  Fayetteville,)  15. 
Coxe's  Mill,  15,  28,  29. 
Collier,  Col.,  17,  51. 
Craigg.  Maj.,  18,  36,  37,  38. 
Currie,  Jos.,  20,  41,  42,  43,  50. 
Carr,  William,  20,  (married,)  56. 
Cagle,    or   Cayle,    John,    21,  49,    see 

note  12. 

Cage,  Wm.,  29,  30. 
Cane  Creek,  battle  of,  33. 
Campbell,  Charles,  37. 

Alexander,  64. 

Coxe,  Capt.,  (house  burnt,)  41. 
Clark,  A.,  46. 
Colston,  Capt..  47. 
Capers,  Gabriel,  62,  note  26. 
Champniss,  John,  62. 
Cassels,  Col.,  62. 
Carson,  Wm.,  62,  note  29. 
Gas  well,  Rich'd,  70. 
Carleton,  Sir  Guy,  note  21. 

DARK,  Thomas,  20,  see  note  12. 

Samuel,  20. 

Depister,  Capt.,  13,  see  note  7. 
Deep  River,  13,  14,  15,  16. 
Duck,  Capt.,  14. 

Dixon's  Mill,  on  Cane  Creek,  14. 
Dudly,    Col.,    16,    17;  for   sketch  of, 

see  note  11. 
Donnelly,  Thos.,  19. 
Deaton,  Wra.,  20. 
Dunn,  Wm.,  21. 
Drowning  Creek,  battle  of,  31. 


[  84] 


Dawson,  James.  37. 

Dugen,  Maj.,  51,  (letter  from,  54.) 

Dupont,  Col.,  61. 

Dawkins,  Geo.,  64. 

Dundass,  Thos..  69. 

EL  WOOD,  Wm.,  17. 
EUett,  James,  20. 
Thos.,  20. 
Erwin,  John,  20. 
Edwards,  Rich'd,  21. 

Meriday,  21  ; 
hung,  see  note  12. 

Edw.,  21,  see  note  12. 
Estwick,  Thomas,  21. 
Kdgchill,  Thomas,  62. 
Eastridge,  Thos.,  see  note  12. 

FANNING,  David,  ix,  x,  xi, 

13,  18,  32,  33,  42,  49,  et  passim. 
William,  21. 

Hon.  Edmond,  see  note  16. 
Fletchall,  Thomas,  1,  2,  3  ; 

biography  and  letter  of,  see  note  1. 
Fair,  Capt,,  9. 
Ferguson,  Patrick,  13,  22  ; 

for  biography  of,  see  note  8. 
Fincannon,  Wm.,  19. 
Fairforest,  see  note  1. 

GILLIAN,  Capt.,  8. 
Greene.  Gen'l,  14. 
Guttrell,  Col,  35. 
Gholston,  Wm.,  Capt.,  53,  54 ; 

house  burnt,  41. 

Griffith,  Major  Roger,  letter  from,  53. 
Guin,  P^dward,  Capt.,  letter  of.  54,  55. 
Gailliard,  John,  62,  see  note  24. 
Greenwood,  Wm.,  62,  note  25. 
Gray,  Col.,  62. 

HAMILTON,  Col.  John,   13,   17,  62, 
64,  66,  (for  sketch,  see  note  11.) 
Hastings,  John,  21. 
Hendrick's  Mill,  3. 
Hinds,  Capt.  John,  15. 


Hillis,  Wm..  20. 
Hunsucker,  Wm..  20. 
Hoocker,  Wm.,  20.  35  ; 

married,  56,  and  shot. 
Holloway,  Stephen,  21. 
Hancock,  Wm.,  21. 
Hodge,  Jos.,  21. 
Hinds,  Capt.,  47. 

Hunter,  Andrew,  escape  of,  with  Fan 
ning' s  mare,  59 ; 

letter  from,  59,  (50  ; 

refused  five  negroes  for  the  mare,  62. 
Hopton,  John,  62,  note  27. 
Hunter,  Peter,  67. 

INXIS.  Col.,  12. 
Isaacs,  Col.,  39,  40,  41. 
Inglis,  Thos.,  62. 

JACKSON,  David,  40  ;  hung,  52  ;  see 

notes  12,  18. 
Johnston,  Rob't,  62. 
James,  61. 

KING,  Wm.,  20. 

Kendrick,  Martin,  21. 

Knowles,  Maj.,  rebel,  killed,  35. 

Knight,  Capt.,  35. 

Kennedy,  Capt.,  taken  by  Fanning,  38. 

LATHAM,  Cornelius,  19. 
Lindley,  James,  1,  see  note  12. 

Win.,  20. 
Little  River.  3. 
Lee,  Col.,  14. 

Leggett,  Capt.,  30,  64,  67,  note  14. 
Lindsey's  Mill,  on  Cane  Creek, 

battle  of,  33,  34. 
Luttrell.  Col.,  killed  at  battle  of  Cane 

Creek,  35. 

Lindly,  Capt.,  35 ;  killed,  46. 
Lopp,  Capt.,  38. 
Leslie,  Geu'l,  57. 

MAUNEP,  John,  21. 
Murphy,  Judge,  xvii. 


McBride,  Arch.,  Hon.,  xvii. 
McDugald,  Arch.,  xviii,  23,  32,  34,  37. 
Mills,  Col.,  7,  see  note  G. 
Musgrove's  Mill,  12; 

battle  of,  see  note  7. 
McPherson,  Wm.,  20. 
McDowell,  Thomas,  21. 
Mclver,  Alex.,  21. 
Martin,  Murdock.  21. 
McLoud,  Wm.,  21. 

Alex'r,  21. 
McKnight,  Wm.,  21. 
McFalls'  Mill.  31. 
McNeal,  Hector,  31,  32,  33,  37, 

see  note  1 5. 
McKay,  Arch.,  34,  37,  68,  note  12. 

Malcolm.  37. 

Mebane,  Robt.,  at  Cane  Creek  battle, 
34,  see  note  15. 

William,  see  note  15. 

Alexander,  see  note  15. 

John,  see  note  15. 

James,  see  note  15. 

David,  see  note  15. 
McCraw,  Alex.,  37. 
McDonald.  Dan'l,  37. 
Martin,  Gov'r,  proclamation  of,  39. 
Maurice,  Jacob,  49. 
Millar,  Andrew,  62,  note  28. 
McNeil,  Dan'l,  64. 
Mclimis,  Neil,  65. 
Mallett,  Peter,  70,  note  12. 
McLean,  John,  note  12. 

NINETY-SIX,  Fort,  2,  3,  5,  7,  9,  12. 
Nelson,  Ab'm, '21. 
Niss,  Henry,  68. 

O'NEAL,  Hugh,  a  tory,  2. 
Col.,  30. 

PARIS,  or  Parrish.  Rich'd,  2,  5,  11, 

12,  13. 

Parrish's  plantation,  4. 
Pickens.  Col..  12.  see  note  6. 
Pvles,  Col.  14. 


Peles,  Wm..  20. 
Price,  Wm.,  21,  49. 
Phillips,  Stephen,  21. 

Col,  02. 

Paisley,  Col.,  29. 
Pearce,  Winsor,  44. 
Powell,  Rob't  Wm..  62. 
Pearson,  Col.,  62. 
Pemberton,  J.,  69. 

RABURN'S  Creek,  a  branch  of  Reedy 
River,    Laurens   district,    S.   C.,    1, 

4,  5,  6. 

Rapely,  a  Jew,  1. 
Robinson,  Maj.  Jos.,  3. 
Reedy.  River,  3,  4. 
Ritchie,  Capt.,  4. 
Rogers,  Capt.  John,  4. 
Rutledge,  Gov.,  11. 
Ramsey's  Mill,  15. 

Rains,  John,   19,  23,  29,   34.  43,   59, 
see  note  12. 

Wm.,  19,  35,  49. 

Geo..  19,  23,  35. 

Robt.,  19. 

James,  20. 
Robens.  Michael,  20. 
Ramsour,  Henry,  20. 
Rutherford,  Gen'l,  30. 
Robertson,  Capt,  30. 
Ramsay,  William,  42,  43,  44. 

Matthew,  44,  45. 
Rosur,  Jos.,  53. 
Robertson,  Charles,  65. 
Rioketls,  Thomas,  see  note  12. 
Rice,  James,  note  12. 
Ray.  Duncan,  note  12. 

SILVEDOOR,  Rev'd  Mr..  1. 

(Salvador,  see  note  1.) 
Smith.  Capt.,  5. 

Samuel,  6. 
Salisbury,  7. 
Spinks,  John,  19. 
Shields.  Benj.,  20. 

Reuben.  21. 


[86  ] 


Smith,  Fred.,  20. 
Adam,  20. 

Smally,  Abner,  21,  49. 
Slingsby,  Col..  30.  31. 
Stinson,  Capt.,  40. 

Starke,   E.,   speaker  of  house  of  com 
mons,  70. 

TORK,  Capt.  John,  5,  6. 
Tiger  River,  6. 
Turner,  Rob't,  20. 

Thompson,  a   Rebel,  taken   by  Fan 
ning,  42. 

Thompson,  Balaam,  46. 
Tennent,  Rev'd  Wm.,  note  1. 

VEITTS,  Rev'd  Roger,  xviii. 


WALKER,  Stephen,  20,  42,  43,  50, 

see  note  12. 

Williams,  Col.,  xi,  11,  12. 
Williamson,  Gen'l,   12. 
Wollaston,  Ebenezer,  19,  34. 
Wade,  Col.,  31. 
Watson,  John,  37. 

Williams,  Jas.,  42,  43,  44,  46,  47,  55. 
Williams,  Capt.,  52. 
Wilson,  Jos.,  58. 
Williams,   Edw'd,  letter  to  Fanning, 

60. 

Rob't,  61,  see  note  23. 
Wells,  Dr.  Wm.  Charles,  62. 
Whitley,  Moses,  64. 
Whisnnpunt,  Philip,  65. 
Williams,  Col,  see  note  8. 


ERRATA. 

To  present  a  truthful  portraiture  of  the  man  and  the  times,  it  was  proper  to 
print  his  Journal  precisely  as  he  wrote  it  himself.  The  orthography  is  not  less 
faulty  in  the  use  of  proper  names  than  in  general  words.  A  few  corrections 
may  be  proper,  to  identify  the  persons  to  whom  he  refers. 

On  page  12,  26th  line,  Musgrovi  Mills  should  be  Musgrove. 
On  page  13,  Forgesson  should  be  Ferguson. 

On  page  17,  29th  line,  Elwood  should  be  Elrod.     Col.  Elrod's  humanity  ren 
dered  him  obnoxious  to  Fanning. — See  Caruthers'  Old  North  State,  vol.  1,  175. 
On  page  35,  llth  line.  Col.  Guttrell  should  be  Luttrell. 

On  page  60,  26th  line,  Garner  should  be  Gainey,  a  famous  Tory  leader  in  S.  C. 
On  page  70,  10th  line,  Starke  should  be  Starkey. 

The  reader  will  readily  correct  the  following : 

On  page  xiv,  L.  D.  Swain  should  be  printed  D.  L. 

On  page  21,  Maunep  should  be  Mauney. 

On  page  5,  Tork  should  be  York. 

On  page  65,  Whisuupunt  should  be  Whisenhunt. 


FANNING'S  NARRATIVE. 

NORTH    CAROLINA. 

1775  —  1783. 


